12th Grade / College Prep
A Pet's View (Descriptive)
Imagine that you woke up this morning and discovered that you have been transformed into a dog, a cat, a fish, or some other kind of animal. How does the world seem different when viewed through the eyes of this animal? Write an essay using sensory details to describe the world from an animal's point of view.
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Advice to Freshman (Expository)
As a senior, you will soon be graduating from your high school. What advice would you give a freshman at your school to help them have happy, productive years in high school? Write an essay detailing the experiences and advice you feel would be helpful to someone beginning his or her high school years.
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At First Glance (Narrative)
"You can't judge a book by its cover" is a common saying. Another way of expressing this idea is, "Things are not always as they appear at first glance." Write an essay about an experience you've had that illustrates this theme.
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Dress Code (Persuasive)
Some high schools are requiring students to follow a dress code. Think about the reasons for instituting dress codes and why they might be needed or necessary.
Write a letter to your principal stating your position for or against a dress code and support it with convincing reasons.
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Educational Software (Descriptive)
You have been contacted by a computer software company to come up with an idea for a computer game that is fun and teaches an important skill. Describe what kind of game you would design, including the skills that the game teaches. Include details about how the game would be played, what it would look like, and what players would learn along the way.
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Electricity-Free (Narrative)
You wake up one morning and find that you have no electricity in your house. There is a note under your door telling you that the electricity will be out all over town for three days. Tell the story of your three days without electricity. How does the lack of electricity change your routine? What do you do to adapt? How do you feel when the electricity finally comes back on?
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Exchange Student (Expository)
A high school exchange student from another country will be living with your family for three months and attending your school. The student has never been to the United States and is nervous about fitting in at a new school. Write a letter offering information that will help prepare your exchange student for three months at your home and school. Explain what day-to-day life is like for you and your friends and suggest what the student might need to pack for the trip.
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Exit Exams (Persuasive)
In some states, students are required to pass an exit exam before they can graduate from high school. If a student does not pass the exam, he/she cannot graduate. People in favor of this idea believe the exam simply asks the students to prove that they have gained the knowledge necessary to graduate from high school; people who are opposed, however, claim that such exams put too much emphasis on a single exam and don't take into consideration the student's four years of effort in the classroom. Write an essay in which you argue for or against the implementation of exit exams. Support your position with specific reasons and examples.
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Finding Your Way Home (Narrative)
Compasses, maps, and GPS (global positioning system) are meant to help us find our destinations, but sometimes we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory. Write a story about a character who is lost in a large foreign city and struggles to find the way back home. Use specific details to describe your main character and his or her experiences during the journey through unfamiliar territory.
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Math Teams (Persuasive)
Many high schools participate in "math meets," where teams of students compete to solve mathematical problems. However, these "math teams" are seldom recognized the way sports teams are. Write an essay arguing whether or not a member of a math team should be awarded a varsity letter for participating in math meets. Support your position with reasons and examples.
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Memorable School Day (Narrative)
While some students may enjoy school more than others, all students have certainly had memorable days at school. Whether the day was positive (passing a test, a victory at the big game, a successful opening of a show) or negative (a friend moving away, a favorite teacher retiring), surely some day in every student's career stands out more than the others. Write a story about your most memorable day, including exactly what happened and why the day was so unforgettable for you. Be as specific as possible in relaying why this day was so important.
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Motivation (Expository)
While many students persevere throughout high school, others occasionally become disinterested in what they claim is the "same old routine." What can be done to keep students motivated and keep them focused on their studies? Write an essay in which you describe how to keep things interesting in the classroom in order to keep students motivated.
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Movie Sequel (Narrative)
While some well-loved films feature sequels, many do not. These movies can leave the audience wanting to know more about the plot and characters they've enjoyed. Is there a film you've wanted to continue past the ending?
Write a synopsis of your own "sequel" to a beloved movie using the same characters and settings as the real film. Remember to include a summary of the previous title and plot, as well as specific new details to draw the reader into your continuation of the movie.
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Native President (Persuasive)
Many young men and women dream of growing up to become President of the United States. However, only those who were born in this country are eligible to run for this office.
Do you feel that the law should be changed to allow anyone to be president, regardless of where he or she was born? Write an essay arguing for or against this law. Be sure to cite specific reasons for your stance on this matter.
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On the Run (Persuasive)
You are hoping to participate in a six-mile run to raise money for a good cause. In order to qualify for the event, you must find a group of sponsors willing to donate at least $100 for each mile you complete. Write a letter to local businesses, neighbors, friends, and family persuading them to sponsor your run. Be sure to explain why the cause you’re raising money for is worth supporting.
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Open-Campus Lunches (Persuasive)
The issue of open-campus lunches is handled differently by most high schools around the country. Some schools allow all of their seniors to leave the school campus during the lunch hour, some schools do not allow any of their seniors to leave, while others allow only certain students (those with adequate grades and without disciplinary problems) to take advantage of the open-campus policy at lunch. Write an essay which argues for one of these positions, supporting your choice with specific reasons and examples.
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Plans After Graduation (Expository)
All students are faced with the decision of what to do after high school graduation. Some students decide to enroll in college, while others go directly into the job market.
Think about your plans beyond graduation.
Write an essay identifying your choice and explaining why it is the best decision for you. Give reasons and examples to support your decision.
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Scent Memory (Descriptive)
Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel Love in the Time of Cholera begins with the arresting sentence, "It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love..." Think about scents that evoke particularly strong memories for you. For example, does the smell of salty air remind you of a trip you once took to the beach?
Think of a particular scent that conjures up a memory for you and write an essay in which you describe the scene associated with this scent. Try to engage as many of the reader’s senses as possible and to be as specific as you can.
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Sensory Snapshot (Descriptive)
Imagine that you have a camera that can capture not only images, but also sounds, smells, and other sensations. Use this camera to take a "sensory snapshot" of some part of your daily routine. Write an essay describing the snapshot from your day in detail, using all your senses.
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Skateboarding at School (Persuasive)
Imagine that the principal of a nearby high school has forbidden the riding of skateboards on school grounds. He has cited damage to school property, noise pollution, and risk of injury as his main concerns. Some students argue that skateboards are a convenient mode of transportation; they are similar to bicycles, and therefore should not be forbidden.
Imagine that your principal is considering the same rule at your school. Should skateboarding be banned or not? Write an essay explaining your position. Provide at least three reasons to support your position.
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Special Object (Narrative)
Read the following excerpt from a poem by Walt Whitman.
There was a child who went forth every day,
And the first object he look'd upon, that
object he became,
And that object became part of him for
the day or a certain part of the day,
Or for many years or stretching cycles
of years.
Whitman's poem suggests that certain objects become important to us and remain important to us even if we no longer have them.
Write a story in which you tell about an object that remains important to the main character over a period of years. The main character could be you or someone you know.
In your story, describe the main character's first encounter with the object, why the object is so important to the character, and how, over the years, it remains a part of the character's life.
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Special Place (Descriptive)
Most people have a special place where they are most comfortable. For some people this may be a room in their house or a quiet place in the woods, while others may find their peace in less obvious places: on a basketball court, playing an instrument, lost in the fantasy of a good book. Write an essay about your special place. What does it look like, sound like, feel like? Describe as completely as you can this special place so that the reader can appreciate it.
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Student Leader (Expository)
Given the many different personalities at a high school and the varying interests of the many students, what kind of a student makes a good leader? What are the qualities that help someone earn the respect of his or her peers? Write an essay in which you describe the qualities of a good student leader.
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The Ever-Changing You (Expository)
Picture yourself as you were four years ago. What were your interests and hobbies? Compare and contrast this younger version of yourself with your current self. Include at least three ways you have changed, and three ways you have remained the same.
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The Meaning of Success (Expository)
Write an essay explaining what success means to you. What goals would you have to meet before you consider yourself successful in life? What are the key ingredients required for leading a successful life?
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The Quest (Narrative)
A classic archetype in literature is the quest narrative in which the protagonist must undertake a difficult journey in order to obtain something or accomplish a particular deed. Write a brief story about a quest that takes place in your own world. Imagine that the hero must find a missing book and must overcome obstacles on the way. Why is the book important? What other characters want to prevent the hero from reaching it? Be sure to explain the significance of the book, why the hero needs it, challenges along the way, and what happens in the end.
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Truth in Fiction (Expository)
Sometimes, a fictional work is described as being "based on a true story." In some cases — as in historical fiction — the actual events described are real, though the characters are created by the writer. In other cases, the "true" story only resembles the facts in minor ways. Sometimes a writer will even call a story true, though it is entirely made up.
How does the claim "based on a true story" affect your opinion of a story? Are you more or less likely to read a fictional story that is based on real events? Write an essay in which you explain your views on fact-based fiction.
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Virtual Students (Persuasive)
Thanks to the availability of home computers and increasingly powerful Internet access, some schools have the ability to transmit live classroom lectures via computer to students unable to attend class in person.
Imagine that a school district is considering expanding its "virtual classroom" program to reduce overcrowding and save money on bus transportation for students in distant areas. However, some people argue that students who do not attend school in person will not develop the skills necessary to compete in the real world.
Write an essay explaining your opinion about the expansion of virtual classroom learning. Provide reasons and examples to support your position.
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Voter Registration Drive (Persuasive)
Your school is sponsoring a voter registration drive for 18-year-old high school students. You and three of your friends are talking about the project. Your friends say the following:
Friend 1:
"I'm working on the young voters' registration drive. Are you going to come to it and register? You're all 18, so you can do it. We're trying to help increase the number of young people who vote and it shouldn't be too hard to read that the percentage of 18- to 20-year-olds who vote increased in recent years. We want that percentage to keep going up."
Friend 2:
"I'll be there. People should vote as soon as they turn 18. It's one of the responsibilities of living in a democracy."
Friend 3:
"I don't know if people should even bother to register. One vote in an election isn't going to change anything."
Do you agree with friend 2 or 3? Write a response to your friends in which you explain whether you will or will not register to vote. Be sure to explain why and support your position with examples from your reading or experience. Try to convince the friend with whom you disagree that your position is the right one.
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Wiki (Expository)
Wikipedia is a collaborative online encyclopedia that is written and edited by its users. Anyone may contribute information about a given topic or edit information posted by other users. A city official has posted a short entry on the town that provides only basic information. In an effort to collect as much information as possible, the official is encouraging each resident to share his or her local knowledge by writing about an aspect of the town that is particularly familiar. Write a short essay to add to your town’s Wikipedia entry. Be sure to choose a topic that you know a lot about.
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Writing Mentor (Informative)
Your school has a program in which a twelfth grader acts as a mentor for a tenth grader at the beginning of each school year. The mentor's job is to help the tenth grader have a successful experience at your school. The tenth grader you are working with is worried about being able to write well enough for high school classes.
Write a letter to your tenth grader explaining what kind of writing is expected in high school classes and what the student can do to be a successful writer in high school.
As you plan your response, think about your own writing experiences. How would you describe "good" writing? What advice about writing has been helpful to you? What writing techniques do you use?
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