7th Grade

A Fork in the Road (Narrative)

The expression "a fork in the road" refers to a circumstance where a person must choose one of two directions without knowing what waits for them on each road. This metaphor can be applied to many life decisions where we have to choose between two courses of action, not knowing which will work out better in the end. Write a story about a character who is struggling with a decision. Why is the decision hard to make? Your story should reveal the choice the character makes and the consequences of that choice.

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A Hot Day (Descriptive)

Imagine that it is a very hot summer day, and you need to find a way to cool off. Write an essay describing what the day feels like and how you cool yourself off. Use vivid details and descriptive words to describe the day, how the heat makes you feel, and how you finally cool down.

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About You (Compare-Contrast)

People sometimes act one way around their family and another way around their friends. As a result, our family and friends may have very different ideas of what we are like.

Write an essay comparing and contrasting what your family and your friends think you are like. Include several ways that their views are similar and several ways that they are different. Give specific examples to support your points.

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After-School Animals (Persuasive)

Your local animal shelter is looking for responsible volunteers to work with stray dogs, to work with stray cats, or to work in the shelter’s office. In order to help them choose the best volunteers for each job, the shelter staff has asked each applicant to write an essay offering specific reasons and examples why he or she should be chosen for the job.

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Brush 'Em Up! (Process)

Your teacher has asked you to create an instruction manual for 2nd graders that explains the correct way to brush your teeth. You do not need to explain what a toothbrush is or why it’s important to brush; concentrate instead on the actions involved in brushing.

Think about the process of brushing your teeth. Do you brush your top teeth and bottom teeth separately or at the same time? Do you brush from right to left? How much time to you devote to each tooth? Write a set of instructions, based on your own personal method, which explains to a 2nd grade student the entire process of tooth brushing.

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Changing Schools (Process)

Going from elementary school to junior high/middle school is a big change. Sometimes these changes can be difficult. You have a younger friend who is getting ready to go to junior high/middle school and could use your help. Explain to your friend several things that he or she can do to get ready for the change. Give examples from your own experiences to support your suggestions.

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Different Country (Narrative)

Pretend that one morning you wake up and find yourself in a different country. Describe what happened. How did you get to the foreign country? Where are you? What do you do? Do you learn anything? Write a short story about your day in a different country. Use your imagination.

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Favorite Exercise (Persuasive)

Think about your favorite way to exercise. For example, you may enjoy dancing, performing martial arts, or playing a sport. Write an essay explaining why you think your favorite form of exercise is a great way to stay in shape, and why other people should try it. Give several reasons and examples.

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Favorite Season (Descriptive)

Think of your favorite season of the year. Write an essay describing what this season is like so that the reader has a vivid picture of the season. Use all of your senses. Think about how this season affects the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds around you.

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Guest Speaker (Persuasive)

Think of a guest speaker that you would like to invite to your school. For example, it may be a famous author, politician, or sports star. Write an essay on why you think that this person should be invited to talk. Give several reasons and convincing examples.

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Help for a New Student (Process)

You see a new student who has just transferred to your school. How will you help the student get acquainted with your school? Write an essay that provides several suggestions to help the new student deal with common situations at your school. Give examples from your own experiences to support your suggestions.

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Hobby Recommendation (Persuasive)

Your friend is thinking about taking up a new hobby but is unsure about what hobby to pursue. What kind of hobby would you recommend to your friend? Write an essay about why your friend should get involved in the hobby you recommend. Give several reasons and examples.

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Inspiration (Cause & Effect)

Sometimes other people inspire us to act or think a certain way. Write an essay about a time when you were inspired or motivated by something someone did or said. What were the words or actions that motivated you? What effect did these words or actions have on you? Were the effects positive or negative? Use specific details to illustrate your inspiration.

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It Can't Be (Descriptive)

It is the year 2025, and you are traveling to the moon. As you step off of the space ship, you let out a gasp as you survey the scene. What do you see? What does it feel like? Write an essay describing your trip to the moon. Use specific details so that your friends back on Earth can understand what you experienced.

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Most/Least Favorite Music (Compare & Contrast)

Many people have a favorite kind of music: rock, country, jazz, hip-hop, rap, classical, or some other type of music. Many people also have a least favorite kind of music.

What kind of music do you like best? What kind do you like least? Explain how your favorite and least favorite kinds of music are different from each other and what they still have in common with each other. You might want to discuss such features as the beat, the words of the songs, the musicians who perform the music, the social impact of the music, or how the music makes you feel.

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Musical Freedom (Persuasive)

Music is one of the things that most kids can decide about by themselves. They can decide what kind of music they like and how they want to listen to it. Some CDs, however, are rated, and not everyone is allowed to buy them. Some people think that kids under a certain age should not be allowed to listen to certain types of music and lyrics.

What do you think? Do you think you should be allowed to listen to and buy any CD you want, or should there be restrictions? Write a letter for your school newspaper’s editorial section stating your argument as strongly as possible. Use examples to support your points.

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One Book (Persuasive)

Your school is in the process of choosing a book to use in its new "One School, One Book" reading program. The book that is chosen will be read and discussed by everyone who attends or works at the school. Write an essay nominating your book choice. Without just describing the book's content or plot, offer reasons why this book is a good choice for your school.

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Opposite Salaries (Cause and Effect)

Successful entertainers and professional athletes can earn fortunes, but teachers have more moderate incomes. What if teachers earned huge salaries and successful entertainers and athletes earned only average salaries? Describe how the field of education and the entertainment industry would be different from the way they are now.

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Something Beautiful You Saw (Descriptive)

Think about something beautiful that you saw recently. Write an essay describing what you saw and how you felt. Use all of your senses. Think about what it would look like, smell like, and feel like. Give lots of details so that the reader can share your impressions.

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Trading Places (Narrative)

Imagine that you and one of your ancestors are given the opportunity to trade places for a day. You are allowed to travel back into the year 1900. Where are you? What do you do? What do you learn that will affect how you live in the present? Write a story about your experience.

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TV Advertisement (Cause-Effect)

Think of an advertisement that you look forward to seeing on television. Explain why this advertisement is so memorable and fun to watch. Also explain whether or not this advertisement has influenced your behavior or your thoughts. Include examples to support your points.

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TV School (Compare & Contrast)

A lot of books, movies, and television shows take place, at least in part, in schools. Some of these fictional schools are more realistic than others. Write an essay comparing life at your real school to life in a fictional school. Use specific examples to demonstrate how the two schools are similar and how they are different.

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Tying a Shoe (Process)

You know how to tie your shoes, but can you explain the task to your five-year-old cousin? You can't be there to show her what to do; you can only explain with words. Do your best to explain the process of tying a shoe so that a five-year-old can understand it.

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Weirdest Day Ever! (Narrative)

Strange things happen to everyone from time to time. What if they all happened at once? Imagine you woke up this morning to find all sorts of weird things happening around you. Write a story about what you experience on the weirdest day ever. Be sure to include descriptive details.

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You are the Teacher (Narrative)

Pretend that one morning you wake up and find out that you've become your teacher for a day! What happened? What do you do? Do you learn anything? Write a story about what happens. Use your imagination!

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Your Town (Descriptive)

Think about the city or town where you live. Write an essay describing what life is like there. Use all of your senses. Describe what the place looks like, smells like, and sounds like. Provide enough detail so that the reader can share your impressions.

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