25 Informative Essay Writing Prompts for the Secondary ELA Classroom

The Daring English Teacher — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 12:30:00 +0000

Looking for informative essay writing prompts? I’ve got you covered!

An informative essay is a staple in middle school ELA and high school English classrooms. An informative essay is a type of writing meant to inform the reader about a specific topic. Informative essays are based on facts and evidence and are not meant to persuade or argue a particular point of view.

When I teach informative essay writing to my students, I specify that essays should all be in one tense and written entirely in the third person. To help my students keep their writing in the third person, I like to use this Writing Spotlight: Writing in the Third Person mini-unit alongside my Informational Essay Writing Unit.

I’ve got you covered if you are looking for informational, informative, or explanatory writing prompts to use in your classroom! This post may contain affiliate links.

Here are 25 informative essay writing prompts to get you started.

Write an informational essay about the history and significance of a major world event (e.g. the fall of the Berlin Wall, the first moon landing)
Write an informational essay about the life and accomplishments of a significant historical figure (e.g. Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi)
Write an informational essay about the causes and effects of a major environmental issue (e.g. climate change, deforestation)
Write an informational essay about self-driving cars,
Write an informational essay about an endangered animal and its habitat.
Write an informational essay about the development and impact of a major scientific or technological breakthrough (e.g. the invention of the internet, the discovery of antibiotics)
Write an informational essay about the role and importance of a specific branch of government (e.g. the judicial branch, the executive branch)
Write an informational essay about the effects of a natural disaster (e.g. an earthquake, a hurricane) on a specific community or region
Write an informational essay about the history and significance of a major cultural movement (e.g. the Harlem Renaissance, the feminist movement)
Write an informational essay about the impact of social media on communication and relationships
Write an informational essay about the causes and effects of poverty in a specific region or country
Write an informational essay about what makes someone a hero.
Write an informational essay about the impact of globalization on the economy and culture of a specific country or region
Write an informational essay about the causes and effects of obesity in the United States
Write an informational essay about the effects of advertising on consumer behavior
Write an informational essay about the effects of air pollution on human health and the environment
Write an informational essay about the role and impact of the media in shaping public opinion
Write an informational essay about three causes of social media addiction
Write an informational essay about the causes and consequences of cyberbullying
Write an informational essay about the impact of video games on mental health and social development
Write an informational essay about how sugar affects the brain
Write an informational essay about the history and significance of a major world landmark (e.g. the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower)
Write an informational essay about the role and impact of the arts in society
Write an informational essay about the effects of music on the brain and behavior
Write an informational essay about the impact of technology on the education system and learning.

I hope that you find these informative essay writing prompts helpful!

If you are looking for more writing prompts, be sure to check out these additional blog posts:

Informative Essay Teaching Unit

Engage your students in this informational and expository essay unit that will help them learn how to write academically! This explanatory, expository, and informational writing unit includes everything you need to teach informational and explanatory writing to your middle and high school students. Plus, all of the digital and print materials are included!

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Back to School Writing Prompts for the Secondary Classroom

The Daring English Teacher — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 05:03:00 +0000

With the new school year on the horizon, here are some helpful back to school writing prompts to use with your new students!

One of the simplest ways to get to know your new students at the start of a new school year is to have them write about themselves. This is one of the reasons why I typically assign a personal narrative essay or personal statement within the first couple of weeks of school. I don’t grade these essays critically, and I don’t look for specific grammatical errors, either. Instead, I am interested in getting to know my students. I want to know who they are. I want to know where they come from. I want to know what they’ve experienced. I want to know their hopes, their dreams, their failures, and their fears.

Getting to know my students through their personal narratives allows me to have a glimpse into their life –one that if often times very beneficial for me as their English teacher.

Assigning a personal narrative at the beginning of the school year doesn’t have to mean assigning a full, five-paragraph essay. These personal narratives can be anywhere between a sentence long to several paragraphs. Here are some of my go-to back-to-school writing prompts for secondary students.

Back to school writing prompts about summer break.

What did you do over summer break?
What was your favorite thing about summer break?
What was your least favorite part of summer break?
What song best represents your summer break and why?
What movie best represents your summer break and why?
What life lessons did you learn over summer break?
What accomplishments did you achieve over summer break?
What hardships did you experience over summer break?

Back to school writing prompts about last school year.

What was your favorite thing about school last year?
What was your least favorite part about school last year?
What class was your favorite and why?
Which class did you struggle with the most and why?
What life lessons did you learn last school year?
What accomplishments did you achieve last school year?
What hardships did you experience last school year?
What obstacles did you face last school year and how did you overcome them?

Back to school writing prompts about this school year.

What are your goals for this school year?
What is the most frightening thing about a new school year?
What is the most exciting thing about a new school year?
What are you most excited about this year?
What are you dreading about this school year?
What current obstacles or hardships are you facing this school year?
As your teacher, how can I best help you succeed in my classroom?
What do you want me to know about you?

Back to school writing prompts about life in general.

What is your most cherished childhood memory? Describe the event/memory in detail.
What is the biggest challenge you have ever faced? How did you overcome this obstacle?
What is your life dream and how do you plan to achieve it?
Describe the most frightening moment of your life.
What are you most proud of and why?
What is a typical day in your life like? Explain in detail.

writing prompt – The Daring English Teacher