Sample Writing Prompts
 RUBRIC (G5), RUBRIC (G8), RUBRIC (G10, 11)
(Prompts By Opinion/Argumentative/
Text Type &
Persuasive
Grade
Level)
Informative
Narrative
5th GRADE
(RUBRIC)
*OSDE
*OSDE
*OSDE
OSDE Sample Prompt 2013Opinion (G5)
OSDE Sample Prompt 2013Informative (G5)
OSDE Sample Prompt 2013Narrative (G5)
A. “The Shepherd of Ettrick”
B. Poem- “A Boy’s Song”
A. “Excerpt from O is for Oil”
B. “Excerpt from The Road to
Petroville”
A. “Why the Bear is Stumpy Tailed”
Folktales were told to explain the
world and things in it. Write your
own narrative story to explain
something common in the world and
how it came to be that way.
Many times authors write about
their life experiences. In the
poem, James Hogg writes about
Bill but never describes Billy to
the reader. In your opinion, is
Billy a person or a dog? Use facts
and details from both the
biography and the poem to
support your opinion.
Both excerpts describe the changes
in oil exploration from the 1800s to
today. Using facts and details from
both of the excerpts, explain how oil
drilling and exploration have
changed from the early days to
today.
OSDE PSTG 2014- Opinion
(G5)
OSDE PSTG 2013- Informative
(G5)
A. “The Future at Your
Fingertips”
B. “A Day Without Screens”
A screen-free day is a day when
people do not use computers,
watch television, play video
games, or do anything else that
requires looking at a screen.
Write an opinion about whether
you think it is a good idea to
have a weekly screen-free day. In
your paper, be sure to state an
opinion and use details from
both passages as support.
A. “History of Tae Kwon Do”
B. “Investigating Sports—Tae Kwon
Do”
Write an informational paper for
your classmates about Tae Kwon Do.
Include important information about
Tae Kwon Do that will help your
classmates understand the sport. Be
sure to use information from both
passages in your paper.
OSDE Released Item 2014Opinion (G5)
OSDE Released Item 2013Informative (G5)
OSDE Released Item 2015Narrative (G5)
A. “Animal Helpers”
B. “Military and Police Force
Animals”
A. “Animals in Disguise”
B. “Seeing Animals Differently”
A. “Farm Life Never Stops”
B. “How Cheese Is Made”
Write an informational paper
explaining how camouflage and
vision work together to help animals
survive in their environments. Be
sure to use information from both
passages in your paper.
Write a narrative about a character
who visits a relative’s farm. On the
farm, animals are cared for,
vegetables are grown, and cheese is
made. Describe what happens during
Animals can be entertaining,
caring, and helpful. Some
animals
Sample Writing Prompts
assist people with day-to-day
activities while others are
members
of the military or a police force.
After reading these passages,
write an opinion about how you
think animals could be useful
in a community, a school, or a
place of work. Be sure to state
your opinion and support it using
information presented in both
passages.
*Mid-Del
*Mid-Del
the character’s visit. Be sure to use
details from both passages in your
narrative. Before you begin planning
and writing your narrative, read the
two passages.
Mid-Del- Opinion (G5)
Mid-Del- Informative (G5)
A. “Shorter Week, More
Savings?”
A. “What Has Changed?”
B. “The Tragedy of Titanic”
Schools that go to a four day
school week must make each of
the days longer in order to meet
state requirements. What is your
opinion of the four day week? In
your writing, consider the effect
this change would have on
student, parents, and teachers.
Use information from the
passage and your own ideas to
support your opinion.
Read the two passages about the
Titanic. Write about what has
changed to improve passenger safety
because of this tragedy. Provide
specific examples from the story that
resulted in the development of the
new rules.
Mid-Del- Opinion (G5):
Mid-Del- Informative (G5):
A. Letter
B. Reasons Why/Why Not to
Have German Shepherd
Brochure
A. “Taking Care of Your Teeth”
B. “Brush and Floss for Healthy
Teeth”
If you were Jason’s mom, would
you get him a German Shepherd
puppy? Use information from
both passages to support your
opinion.
Read the passages. Explain how the
methods people use to care for their
teeth have changed over time. Use
information from both passages to
write your explanation.
6th GRADE
*Achieve
the Core
Achieve the CoreArgumentative (G6-8)
Achieve the Core- Informative
(G6-8)
A. “Social Media as
A. “Digging In”
Community”
B. Poem- “Debts”
B. “Is Google Making Us
C. “The New Deal”
Stupid?”
C. “Attached to Technology and Great historical events have deep
Paying a Price”
effects upon people who live
through them. Depending on the
Should your school participate in person and the situation, those
the national “Shut Down Your
effects can be very different.
Screen Week?” Be sure to use
According to these texts, what effect
Achieve the Core- Narrative (G6-8)
A. “Black Blizzard”
B. Photographs
Great historical events have deep
effects upon people who live
through them. Depending on the
person and the situation, those
effects can be very different. Write a
narrative, showing how a particular
small moment during this experience
affected one person (see choices).
Sample Writing Prompts
*Mid-Del
evidence from the texts, as well
as your own knowledge, to
support and develop your
thinking.
did the Great Depression have on
people who lived through it? Be sure
to use evidence from the texts to
support and develop your thinking.
Mid-Del- Argumentative
(G6):
A. “Story on Saturn!”
A. “Credibility on the Web”
B. 2 Websites
Read the passage called
“Credibility on the Web,” then
look at the three webpages on
endangered animals. Decide
which is the most credible
website. Use evidence from the
passage and the webpages to
support your claim
*Mid-Del
Mid-Del- Argumentative
(G6):
A. “Should These Players Be
Paid?”
B. “Why Paying College
Athletes Is A Bad Idea”
The passages present two
different opinions on whether or
not college athletes should be
paid money for playing a sport.
Which side do you support?
Make a claim and support your
claim with information from the
passages.
Mid-Del- Informative (G6):
Citing information from the article
“Story on Saturn!” compare and
contrast storms on Saturn with
storms on Earth.
Mid-Del- Informative (G6):
A. “When the Sky Turned Red and
Green”
B. “Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ): Aurora Borealis”
Explain what an aurora borealis is
using information from both
passages. Why was the 2011 event in
Arkansas so unusual? Cite specific
evidence from the passage and
maintain a formal style.
7th GRADE
*Mid-Del
*Mid-Del
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G7):
A. “Junk Food”
B. “Tax on Junk Food”
Mid-Del- Informative (G7):
A. “No Phones, Safer Roads”
B. “What Skills Does a Driver Use”
Do you believe that there should
be a tax on junk food? Make a
claim and support it using
information from both passages.
Many people talk or text on cell
phones while driving. Write an
explanation of why using cell phones
can be dangerous while driving using
information from both passages.
Mid-Del- Informative (G7):
A. “Attention Candidates”
B. “Why Don’t More Young People
Vote?”
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G7):
A. “The Amish”
B. “Which Law to Follow?”
“Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the
Only half of the eligible voting
population under the age of 30
votes. Write an explanation on why
Sample Writing Prompts
freedom of speech, or of the
press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.”
this is. Also, list some whys voter
turnout can be improved for this age
group.
The First Amendment to the
United States Constitution
guarantees freedom of religion.
Read the two passages
concerning the Amish religion.
Do you believe the Amish men
who refused to put the reflecting
triangle on their buggy should be
punished? State your opinion
and support it with evidence
from the two passages.
*Moore
*Moore
Moore: Argument #1 (G7)
A principal reads an
inappropriate message posted
on a social networking site and
disciplines a student for it. A
police officer searches a cell
phone belonging to an arrested
person. Some believe these
actions are appropriate, even
necessary, to maintain safe
communities. Others believe that
these actions are an invasion of
privacy. After reading the
articles, “Password Protected”
and “Phone Patrol,” write an
argumentative essay in which
you address the following
question: Should officials be able
to use information they obtained
from private devices or social
networking sites in order to
protect the community? Be sure
to use information from both
articles to support your
argument.
Moore: Argument #2 (G7)
After reading “Satis-fries: Fewer
Calories, But Are They Healthy?”
and “Do You Want Fries or Fruit
With That?,” write an essay in
which you discuss the changes in
McDonald’s and Burger King’s
menus. Evaluate the menu
changes and argue whether or
Moore: Informative #1 (G7)
Countries around the world set
attendance laws and educational
standards for their school aged
children. Parents struggle to create
healthy and educated students. After
reading “In Afghanistan, School is a
luxury that many working children
cannot afford” and “More and more
students suffer from Anxiety” write
an essay in which you identify the
problems of unequal educational
opportunities and expectations and
propose a solution. Support your
position with evidence from both
texts.
Moore: Informative #2 (G7)
The FBI investigates two heists of
famous paintings. After reading “FBI
asks for help in solving famous art
heist” and “The Curious Case of the
Lost and Found Tiny Renoir”, write
an essay in which you explain how
the role and involvement of the FBI
affected these two cases. Support
Sample Writing Prompts
not they are providing healthier
options. Support your position
with evidence from both texts.
your discussion with evidence from
both texts.
OSDE Sample Prompt 2013Argumentative (G8)
A. “A Brief History of the Three
Gorges Dam”
B. “A Cruise Down the Yangtze
River”
OSDE Sample Prompt 2013Informative (G8)
A. “Protecting the Nest”
B. “Red-Cockaded Woodpecker”
OSDE Sample Prompt 2013Narrative (G8)
A. “The Transcontinental Railroad”
B. “Pacific Railroad Completed!”
Explain how the Red-Cockaded
Woodpecker’s nesting habits have
caused it to be placed on the
endangered species list. Use facts
and details from the selections to
support your explanation.
Write a narrative that describes the
experience of someone who is an
early traveler on the
Transcontinental Railroad (Pacific
Railroad). Your writing should
include a description of the railroad
line as well as the character’s
feelings about traveling on the line.
8th GRADE
(RUBRIC)
*OSDE
*OSDE
*OSDE
China finished construction of
the Three Gorges Dam on July 4,
2012. This dam is the largest
hydroelectric dam in the world.
China now has plans to build four
more hydroelectric dams along
the Jinsa River, a river that flows
into the Yangtze River. Write an
argument whether China should
build more large hydroelectric
dams. Be sure to state a claim
and counter claim
and use evidence from both
passages.
OSDE PSTG 2014, 2015Argumentative (G8):
A. “The Ancient Olympics”
B. “The Modern Olympic Games”
The modern Olympic games
were created so athletes could
compete to promote goodwill
among nations. Since 1988,
professional athletes have been
allowed to compete with
amateur, or nonpaid, athletes.
Write an argument whether
professional athletes should be
allowed to compete in the
Olympic Games. Be sure to state
a claim and address an opposing
claim using evidence presented
in both passages.
OSDE Operational Prompt 2014Argumentative (G8)
A. “The Impact of Animal
Protection”
B. “Do Animals Lose in Zoos?”
OSDE PSTG 2013- Informative (G8)
A. “A Guide to Healthy Habitat
Design”
B. “Spotlight on Excellence: An
Interview with a Student
Conservationist”
Write an informational paper about
how wildlife conservation
organizations work to protect
endangered species and increase
their numbers both in captivity and
in the wild. Be sure to use
information from both sources in
your paper.
OSDE Operational Prompt 2013Informative (G8)
A. “Changing Your Mind—One
Thought at a Time”
OSDE Operational Prompt 2015Narrative (G8)
A. “Round ‘em Up and Move ‘em
Out!”
B. “A Life on the Trail”
Sample Writing Prompts
*Mid-Del
*Mid-Del
People have different viewpoints
about whether animals, including
endangered animals, should live
in the wild or in man-made
environments. Write an
argument whether any animal
should be
kept in a controlled
environment, such as zoos or
nature parks. Be
sure to state a claim and address
an opposing claim using evidence
presented in both passages.
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G8):
A. “Help Yourself?”
Many grocery stores are
equipped with self-serve
checkout lanes. While many
customers like this way of
checking out, others do not.
Supermarkets have to decide
what to do. Read the article Help
Yourself? to familiarize yourself
with the problem and what some
stores are doing about it. Explain
which is better: keeping or
getting rid of the self-checkout
lanes. Be sure to cite specific
reasons for your argument from
the article.
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G8):
A. "Teen Writing Makes
Teachers :("
B. "Mobile Phone 'Textisms'
Can Boost Writing Skills"
Issue: A recent survey has found
that many teens are using
informal text-messaging
shorthand in their formal writing
for school. Some say that the
survey's results are disturbing.
They think students should not
be encouraged to write
informally in school. Others are
not so sure. A study done in the
United Kingdom found that the
use of "textisms" may actually
improve writing skill. Read both
passages, and decide your
B. “Our Brain: For Better or For
Worse”
Write an informational paper that
examines the topic of how people
learn and how they can increase
their brain power. Be sure to use the
information from both sources in
your paper.
Mid-Del- Informative (G8):
A. “Get in the Game: Trainers
Needed”
Read the list of skills and personal
qualities that an athletic trainer
should have: social skills (ability to
work well with others),
communication skills, stress
management skills, education, and
compassion (sympathy). Explain why
an athletic trainer would need these
qualities using evidence from the
passage.
Mid-Del- Informative (G8):
A. “Sweet Drinks Drop Out of
School”
B. “Trends in Soft Drink
Consumption”
Using the information presented,
explain why school districts are
opting to remove sugary drinks from
their schools.
Write a narrative describing a day in
your life as if you were a cowhand on
a cattle drive. In your narrative,
include specific details about the
cattle drive and an explanation about
how you helped overcome a
challenge on the trail. Be sure to use
information from both passages in
your narrative. Before you begin
planning and writing your narrative,
read the two passages.
Sample Writing Prompts
*Mid-Del
*Moore
*Moore
9th
GRADE
position on this issue. Support
your choice using evidence.
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G8):
A. "Earthquake Passage”
B. "Charts x3"
Read the passage and look
carefully at the maps. If you had
to move to Memphis, Tampa
Bay, or Los Angeles, which would
you choose? Write about what
your choice city would be and
why you would choose it over
the other cities. Use evidence
from the passage and the maps
to support your reasoning.
Moore: Argument #1 (G8)
Everyone knows that smoking
cigarettes is bad, and a lot of
people have found success by
replacing the habit with ecigarettes. Whether or not the
method is completely safe is up
in the air, even though it has
helped people put down the
actual cigarettes. After reading
“Two Cheers for E-Cigarettes”
and “L.A. Bans ECigarettes,”
write an argumentative essay in
which you argue for or against
electronic cigarettes. Support
your position with evidence from
both passages and address both
your position and the opposing
argument.
Moore: Argument #2 (G8)
Some teachers torment students
with hours of homework every
night, while others assign
nothing their students cannot
accomplish during class time.
After reading “The Homework
Revolution” and “Homework:
Too little or too much? It
depends,” write an essay in
which you identify the problem
regarding how much homework
is beneficial and propose a
solution. Support your position
with evidence from both texts.
Moore: Informative #1 (G8)
After reading “In School, Popular
Kids Get Bullied Just like the
Outcasts” and “Taking Classes Online
to Avoid School Bullying”, write an
essay in which you describe the
effects of bullying. Support your
discussion with evidence from both
texts.
Moore: Informative #2 (G8)
Growing research establishes the
hazards of texting and driving. After
reading “Spreading the Message that
Texting While Driving Can Kill You”
and “Texting, Dialing While Driving
Raise Crash Risk, Study Confirms,”
write an essay in which you explain
the dangers of texting and driving.
Support your discussion with
evidence from both texts.
Sample Writing Prompts
*Mid-Del
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G9):
A. “Timeline of the
Investigation into the
Oklahoma City Bombing”
Which two pieces of evidence
uncovered in the investigation of
the Oklahoma City bombing
were most crucial to the
identification of Timothy
McVeigh as the prime suspect in
the case? Support your claims
with evidence from the passage
as well as your own opinions.
*Mid-Del
*Moore
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G9):
A. “Are High Cost Schools
Worth It”
Briefly summarize the opposing
viewpoints concerning the
construction of the Robert F.
Kennedy Community Schools.
Make a claim for the viewpoint
you consider stronger. Support
your response with evidence
from the article, as well as ideas
of your own.
*Moore- Argumentative #1 (G9)
Mid-Del- Informative (G9):
A. “Native American Schools Fight
Sickness”
B. Chart- Compare & Contrast Two
Types of Diabetes
Write about the differences between
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Using
information from the article and the
chart, describe how someone can
avoid or control Type 2 diabetes.
Include direct and indirect
quotations from both sources.
Mid-Del- Informative (G9):
A. Poem- “The Seven Ages of Man”
According to Shakespeare, there are
seven stages to life. Explain these
seven stages, drawing on
Shakespeare’s words, your own
personal experience, or characters
from literature, history or modern
culture.
*Moore- Informative #1 (G9)
10th
GRADE
(G10
RUBRIC)
*OSDE
OSDE Released Item (09-10)Informative (EngII)
People can learn about the past in
many ways. One way is to study
what people in the past used every
day, wore as clothing, or made as
decorations or works of art. Write an
expository essay about a current
everyday object that might help
people in the future learn about and
understand how we live today.
Explain what the object is, how it is
used, and what it reveals about how
people live today. Be sure to use
specific details to inform the reader.
OSDE PTSG 2015- Narrative (EngII)
There is a common proverb that
states, “The unexpected always
happens.” Write about a situation or
an event that did not turn out the
way you expected. If you could have
foreseen what was going to happen,
would you have changed anything
about your actions? Be sure to
include an introduction, a body, and
a conclusion in your writing.
Sample Writing Prompts
*OSDE
*Mid-Del
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G10):
Read the following sources
(including the introductory
information) carefully. Then
write an essay in which you
develop a position on the effects
of advertising. Synthesize at least
three of the sources for support.
Source A (Red Cross)
Source B (Shaw)
Source C (Calpa)
Source D (Day)
Source E (Schrank)
Source F (Sesana)
*Mid-Del
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G10):
Jefferson was a man of words.
Washington was a man of action.
Stephen Ambrose makes the
argument that of the two,
Washington was the greatest. Do
you agree with Ambrose’s
argument? Which one, in your
opinion, had the greatest impact
on the development of the new
nation? Use evidence from the
passage to support your
argument.
*Moore
Moore: Argumentative #1 (G10)
After reading the poem “Debts”
by Karen Hesse and the speech
by President Franklin Roosevelt,
write an essay in which you
OSDE Released Item (11-12)Informative (G10)
A role model is someone others
admire and try to imitate. Famous
people are often looked up to, but a
teacher, a parent, another adult, or a
friend can also be an excellent role
model. Think about the positive
qualities a role model should have.
Then choose someone who fits that
description for you. Write an
expository essay about this person.
Explain what this person has done,
what qualities this person has, and
why you believe this person is a
positive role model. Be sure to use
specific details to inform the reader.
Mid-Del- Informative (G10)
In the letter, Frederick Douglass
wrote, "We were always men—now
we are citizens and men among
men." What do you think Douglass
meant by this? Discuss the various
methods that were used to prevent
African Americans from voting and
why those methods were effective.
Use details from the article and your
own ideas to support your response.
Moore: Informative #1 (G10)
After reading “Is A Bad Mood
Contagious?,” and “On a Sunny Day,
You may get the Rainy-Day Blues
from Facebook Friends”, write an
OSDE Released Item (10-11)Reflective (EngII)
Write a reflective essay about a time
when you admired an
accomplishment of your own or of
someone else’s. Discuss what
happened and how this experience
made you feel. It may have been
when you or someone else achieved
victory in a contest, made the right
decision, or worked to achieve a
goal. Be sure to use specific details
that help the reader understand the
significance of the experience.
Sample Writing Prompts
argue why the New Deal gave
people hope during the Great
Depression. Support your
argument with evidence from
both the poem and the speech.
informational essay in which you
describe how mood can be affected
by the emotions of others. Support
your discussion with evidence from
both texts.
Moore: Argumentative #2 (G10)
After reading the articles, “Why
Being a Thinker Means Pocketing
Your Smartphone” and “Have
Smartphones Killed Boredom?,”
write an argument essay in which
you answer the question: Has
the overuse of cellphones limited
our creativity? Support your
position with evidence from both
articles.
Moore: Informative #2 (G10)
After reading the speeches “Letter
from Birmingham Jail” and “Hope,
Despair, and Memory,” write an
essay in which you examine both
authors’ beliefs about the
importance of remembering the
past. Why is it important to
remember painful aspects of the
past rather than forget them?
Support your discussion with
evidence from both articles.
11th-12th
GRADE
(G11
RUBRIC)
*OSDE
*OSDE
OSDE Released Item (10-11)Persuasive (G11)
In some communities, boys and
girls have the opportunity to
attend gender-specific high
schools. Only girls go to one high
school, and only boys go to
another high school. Write a
persuasive essay taking a
position on whether or not you
favor gender-specific schools. Be
sure to support your position
with reasons, examples, and/or
personal experiences.
OSDE Released Item (11-12)Persuasive (G11)
Some people believe that cell
phone use while driving should
be banned. They argue that using
a cell phone while driving causes
drivers to be distracted, and this
could lead to accidents. Others
believe that the advantages of
using cell phones while driving
outweigh any possible risks. They
argue that having the ability to
call for directions or help is
important. Although they are
Sample Writing Prompts
*OSDE
*Mid-Del
against banning cell phones
while driving, they do advocate
that all drivers should be aware
of the possible distractions.
Write a persuasive essay taking a
position on whether or not cell
phones should be banned while
driving. Be sure to support your
position with reasons, examples,
and/or personal experiences.
OSDE PSTG 2015- Persuasive
(G11)
Your high school has received a
large donation from the estate of
a former citizen in your area. The
money is to be used toward
something that will improve
student life for the students at
your school. Some people have
suggested a new library, while
others have suggested a new
computer lab or a student fitness
center. Which of the ideas would
you support for your school? Is
there a different idea you would
suggest? Write a persuasive
paper to convince your school
board that your proposal is the
best way to spend the money—
and why.
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G11)
Read the following sources
(including the introductory
information) carefully. Then
write an essay in which you
develop a position on the effects
of advertising. Synthesize at least
three of the sources for support.
Mid-Del- Informative (G11)
Read the passage “Remembering
Dred Scott.” Discuss how
Amendments XIII and XIV of the
constitution nullify each of the
specific arguments given in the
passage about the Dred Scott
decision. Use evidence from the
texts in your response.
Source A (Rotstein)
Source B (Delaney)
Source C (Dyson)
Source D (Johnson)
Source E (Gelernter)
Source F (Boligan)
*Mid-Del
Mid-Del- Argumentative (G11)
A weekly feature of The New
York Times Magazine is a column
by Randy Cohen called “The
Ethicist,” in which people raise
Mid-Del- Informative (G11)
Explain why the lobotomy was
developed, and why at the time it
was highly praised by many,
including the Nobel Foundation.
Sample Writing Prompts
ethical questions to which Cohen
provides answers. The question
below is from the column that
appeared on April 4, 2003. At my
high school, various clubs and
organizations sponsor charity
drives, asking students to bring in
money, food, and clothing. Some
teachers offer bonus points on
tests and final averages as
incentives to participate. Some
parents believe that this sends a
morally wrong message,
undermining the value of charity
as a selfless act. Is the exchange
of donation for grades O.K.? The
practice of offering incentives for
charitable acts is widespread,
from school projects to fund
drives by organizations such as
public television stations, to
federal income tax deductions
for contributions to charities. In a
well written essay, develop a
position on the ethics of offering
incentives for charitable acts.
Support your position with
evidence from your reading,
observation, and/or experience.
Then, describe the pros and cons
behind lobotomies and why its
popularity eventually declined. Use
evidence from the passages to
support your response.
*Moore
Moore: Argumentative #1 (G11)
Students of all ages are required
to take standardized tests to
assess their learning
development. Are these tests
helpful or harmful to a student’s
education? Read the two articles
and write an essay in which you
explain the viewpoints presented
in each and assess the validity of
the arguments for and against
standardized testing.
*Moore
Moore: Argumentative #2 (G11)
Are bullies criminals? Some
believe bullying should carry
criminal charges, while others
argue that criminalizing the act
of bullying only adds to the
problem. What do you think?
Read the articles on bullying and
write an essay in which you
Moore: Informative #1 (G11)
With regard to public education, can
we actually maintain personal lives
within the concept of our school
lives? After reading the two articles
about issues with social media, write
an essay in which you identify the
concerns schools have with social
media and outline steps that can be
taken to accommodate the students,
teachers, and schools involved.
Support your analysis with cited
evidence from the text(s).
Moore: Informative #2 (G11)
After reading the articles on Reality
TV Shows, write an essay in which
you explain why reality TV is taking
over the entertainment industry, and
why these types of shows are so
appealing to watch. Support your
discussion with evidence from the
texts.
Sample Writing Prompts
argue for or against bullying
being a punishable crime. Use
evidence from the text(s) to
support your position.
*Moore
Moore: Argumentative Essay #3
(G11)
After reading the articles on the
“bystander effect”, write an
essay in which you explain the
“bystander effect” and agree or
disagree with the idea that social
media will only contribute to an
individual’s lack of concern or
involvement with others.
*Moore
Moore: Argumentative Essay #4
(G11)
College and university admission
policies often require special
consideration for applicants of
minority status (race, gender,
etc.) Some believe these
admission’s policies promote
diversity and help compensate
for past discrimination. Others
believe they create a new kind of
discrimination. Read the two
articles and argue the case for or
against the use of affirmative
action. Support your argument
with evidence from the texts.
*Moore
Moore: Argumentative #5 (G11)
Does Algebra II ensure a more
successful future? After reading
the two articles about the
relevance of Algebra II and posthigh school success, write an
essay in which you agree or
disagree with the idea that
Algebra II should be a required
graduation requirement. Support
your position with cited evidence
from the text(s), and make sure
you include a counterclaim
(concession) in your argument.
*Moore
Moore: Argumentative #6 (G11)
Is social media truly helpful or
harmful to young people? After
researching the two articles on
Sample Writing Prompts
social media and networking,
write an essay in which you
argue the beneficial or harmful
results. Support your position
with evidence from your
passages, and be sure to include
a counterclaim.
*Moore
Moore: Argumentative #7 (G11)
After reading the two articles
about government security and
spying, write an essay, in which
you agree or disagree with the
idea that national security is
reinforced by government
surveillance. Support your
position with cited evidence
from the text(s), and make sure
you include a counterclaim
(concession) in your argument.
* SOURCES:
OSDE= "Test Support (Teachers and Administrators)." Welcome to Oklahoma's Official Web Site.
Oklahoma State Department of Education, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
< http://ok.gov/sde/documents/2013-09-05/blue-prints-plds-item-specs>.
Mid-Del= Mid-Del Schools. "Language Arts." Teaching and Learning: District Curriculum. Mid-Del
Schools, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. < http://www.mid-del.net/pages/MidDel_Schools/Departments/Reading_and_Language_Arts>
MOORE= Moore Public Schools. "Curriculum Read/LangArts-Secondary." / Practice Writing Prompts.
N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2015.