Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively

E X A M P L E   3.1.

Recommendation 3 

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Sample on-demand prompts for different disciplines

Subject

Prompt

Social 

studies

After 1945, the Cold War shaped events in Europe. (a) Describe two ways in which 

Cold War tensions affected Europe. (b) Describe two effects of the end of the Cold War.

Philosophy

After reading “Temperance and Choices.” 

The class will be discussing which kind of person demonstrates more admirable 

qualities—Person A, Person B, or Person C. Write an explanation that you will  

present to the class about which person possesses more admirable qualities. Use 

information from the passage in your explanation.

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English 

language 

arts

A school district has a new middle school. On the first day, the students real-

ize that they are the first people to sit in the desks, use the books in the library, 

walk the halls, and set the traditions for all of the students who will attend for 

years to come. A teacher suggests that everyone write about his or her first day in 

the school. The students’ narratives will be compiled in a book and placed in the 

library for future students to read. Think about what it would be like to be the first 

to attend a newly built school. Write a narrative for the book, and tell about that 

first day. Describe what you do, see, and feel throughout the day.

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English 

language 

arts

After reading “Dulce et Decorum Est” by WWI poet Wilfred Owen and “The Death  

of the Ball Turret Gunner” by WWII poet Randal Jarrell.

 

Create a Venn diagram and write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the two 

poets’ stances toward war.

Psychology

After hearing a lecture on birth order theory.

Write a journal entry describing to what degree your personality traits align with 

the traits listed as typical of oldest, middle, youngest, or only children.

Science

After reading about photosynthesis in the textbook.

Write an exit slip:

A) Defining what photosynthesis is

B)  Describing the process of photosynthesis

C)  Posing one question you have about photosynthesis

History

After studying The Gettysburg Address.

Create a triple entry “Say, Mean, Matter” log. Under Say, copy a passage from the 

text. Under Mean, present your paraphrase and interpretation of what the quote 

means. Under Matter, comment on why the passage is significant and is still rele-

vant today.

Math/

science

After running a series of short, timed relay races in which students pick up colored 

toothpicks from a grassy field.

Work together with a partner to write a prediction of the probability that certain 

percentages of each color of toothpicks will be collected in subsequent relay, and 

in what order. Hypothesize how your findings relate to the concept of protective 

coloration.

Visual arts

After viewing a clips from the Disney version of Pocahontas.

Create a quickwrite in which you describe how the depiction of Pocahontas and 

John Smith in the Disney version may be believable and then describe how each  

is portrayed as compared with real life.

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