8th Grade Writing Prompts Worksheets
Related ELA Standard: W.8.2.B
A great process to start with students at this level is to have them write a daily journal. When they have a less than active day or draw a blank have them use writing prompts to get them going. A writing prompt that directly relates to students ' lives will take off like you won 't believe. Your best option with these activities is to let students explore where they want to go with them. At the 8th grade level, we are working with students to be a little more independent and adaptable with their ability to write for purpose. 8th grade students should have a good command of writing to inform, entertain, or persuade. 8th graders should also have solid grammar and sentence mechanics skills. We are hoping that have mastered spelling of vocabulary words that are at their grade level or less. These worksheets will provide students with a collection of deep thinking writing prompts to get them writing and practicing their 8th grade level skills.
8th Grade Writing Prompts Worksheets:
Follow the Money - This writing prompt is pretty deep. If we focus on the quality of our food supply, wouldn't we be healthier? Conduct some brief research, if necessary, to better understand the topic. Then take a position, developing the topic with relevant, well‐chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Write several paragraphs which completely answer the prompt.
The Human Race? - Look at both extreme measures of it. What are the best and worst qualities of the human race?
Time Travel - If you jumped back to the 1700s, what skills or knowledge would you bring? What knowledge would you want to take back with you to help make your life better?
A Second Chance at Life - A few hundred years is a bit of stretch, I think. If you were to awake several hundred years from now as the first successful cryogenic patient ever, to find that what killed you has been cured, and you are once again healthy, what would be your first thoughts? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of living out your life in this future time period?
Human Progress? - How are we doing as a species? Do you think people are getting better (smarter, kinder, gentler, stronger, healthier, etc.) or worse than they were three, four or five hundred years ago, or do you think that human nature has stayed pretty much the same? How?
The Parent Trap - Are there advantages to being an older parent? Are there disadvantages? What are they?
To Be or Not to Be (a Law) - Imagine a society in which there are no laws. What one thing would you like to do that you are not able to do now?
America's Greatest Moment - What do you think is the most significant moment in American history?
My Favorite... - What is the best type of music, or genre of book or movie? Why? Students love writing prompts that asks them about their favorite things.
If the Shoes Fit... - There is an old saying, "You can't really understand someone until you walk a mile in their shoes." Do you think that this is true?
What's Wrong with Politics? - How would you reform our political system? Do you think politicians should have term limits?
Conspiracy! - A conspiracy theory is a belief that some covert but influential organization is responsible for a circumstance or event.
A Window to the Past - Choose someone from American history (living or dead) and imagine you are able to talk to them for half an hour.
Trucks are for Boys, Tinkerbell is for Girls. . . Says Who? - Do you feel that too many things are targeted specifically to boys or to girls?
The Department of Parenting - What do you think makes a good parent? Do you think that there should be some kind of licensing or screening program in order to have children?
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