120 Engaging Middle School Writing Prompts

Getting middle school students to write can be particularly challenging. However, if you provide your students with a fun, interesting, and engaging writing prompt, you’ll find that their creativity and enthusiasm for writing can be easily sparked.

Below is a list of writing prompts for middle school students, including creative prompts, journal prompts, persuasive writing prompts, expository writing prompts, and story starter prompts. These are perfect for classroom exercises, homework assignments, or even just for personal exploration, helping students to develop their writing skills, express their ideas, and discover the joy of writing.

Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

These creative writing prompts are cues or scenarios that inspire imaginative storytelling and personal expression. These prompts will encourage middle school students to explore new ideas, develop their narrative skills, and express themselves in unique and creative ways. Here’s a list of creative writing prompts for middle school students:

1. Write a story where the main character discovers a secret passage in their home.
2. Imagine a world where animals can talk. What would they say?
3. Create a tale about a mysterious, abandoned city you stumbled upon.
4. Write about a day where everything you draw becomes real.
5. Imagine finding a book that contains your entire life story. What do you do?
6. Write a story set in a futuristic world where everyone lives underwater.
7. Create a tale about a magical garden that grants wishes.
8. Describe a journey to a planet entirely different from Earth.
9. Write about a character who can switch lives with anyone they meet.
10. Imagine your school is a castle. What adventures unfold there?
11. Write a story about a secret society of kids with superpowers.
12. Describe a world where it’s night for half the year.
13. Create a story about a mysterious forest that changes with the seasons.
14. Write about discovering an old map that leads to a hidden treasure.
15. Imagine waking up in a world where you are the ruler.
16. Create a tale about a magical snow globe that transports you to different places.
17. Write about a character who invents a new holiday.
18. Describe a world where shadows have a life of their own.
19. Imagine finding a door in your backyard that leads to a different universe.
20. Write a story about a character who can hear others’ thoughts.

Journal Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

These journal writing prompts are thought-provoking questions or ideas that will encourage middle school students to reflect on their personal experiences, feelings, and beliefs. These prompts are designed to help students develop self-awareness, enhance their writing skills, and express themselves in a safe, private space. Here’s a list of journal writing prompts for middle school students:

1. Write about your most memorable day and why it stands out.
2. Describe your dream job and why you’re interested in it.
3. Reflect on a time when you overcame a challenge.
4. Write about what kindness means to you and a time you experienced it.
5. Imagine your perfect day. What would it involve?
6. Describe your favorite hobby and why you enjoy it.
7. Write about the best advice you ever received and who gave it to you.
8. Reflect on your greatest strength and how it has helped you.
9. Write about a goal you have for this school year.
10. Describe a place where you feel completely relaxed and happy.
11. Reflect on a book or movie that deeply impacted you.
12. Write about someone you admire and why.
13. Describe a time when you helped someone and how it made you feel.
14. Imagine what the world will be like in 50 years.
15. Write about your favorite memory with your family.
16. Reflect on a moment when you felt proud of yourself.
17. Describe your ideal adventure.
18. Write about a time you were scared and how you handled it.
19. Reflect on what friendship means to you.
20. Write about a skill you’d like to learn and why.

Persuasive Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

These persuasive writing prompts are designed to inspire middle school students to develop arguments and persuade readers about a particular viewpoint or idea. These prompts will encourage critical thinking and research skills and enable students to present and justify their opinions clearly. Here’s a list of persuasive writing prompts for middle school students:

1. Should homework be banned in schools? Argue your point.
2. Persuade your readers why recycling should be mandatory.
3. Is it better to read a book or watch a movie adaptation? Make your case.
4. Argue for or against the importance of physical education in schools.
5. Should students have a say in what they learn? Persuade your audience.
6. Persuade your readers about the importance of learning a second language.
7. Is it more beneficial to be a team player or an individual performer? Justify your opinion.
8. Should animals be kept in zoos? Present your arguments.
9. Argue why your favorite season is the best.
10. Persuade your audience about the importance of arts in education.
11. Should there be stricter rules for students’ internet use? Make your case.
12. Argue for or against school uniforms.
13. Is it better to give money to charity or volunteer your time? Persuade your readers.
14. Persuade your audience on the importance of eating healthy foods.
15. Should video games be considered a sport? Argue your viewpoint.
16. Is it more important to be smart or kind? Persuade your readers.
17. Argue why your city or town is a great place to live.
18. Should students be allowed to use mobile phones in school? Present your arguments.
19. Persuade your audience on the importance of having a hobby.
20. Argue for or against the significance of space exploration.

Expository Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

These expository writing prompts are designed to help middle school students explore and convey information in a clear, concise, and structured manner. This type of writing requires students to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a coherent way. Here’s a list of expository writing prompts for middle school students:

1. Explain the significance and process of the water cycle in nature.
2. Describe the causes and effects of climate change.
3. Write about the history and significance of a famous holiday.
4. Explain how a specific technology works (like smartphones or virtual reality).
5. Describe the steps involved in making your favorite meal.
6. Write about the life cycle of a butterfly or another animal.
7. Explain the importance of a balanced diet and exercise.
8. Describe what life was like in a particular historical period.
9. Explain how governments are formed and function.
10. Write about the journey of water through the water cycle.
11. Describe how a bill becomes a law.
12. Explain the impact of social media on modern communication.
13. Write about the process of photosynthesis.
14. Describe the different types of renewable energy and their importance.
15. Explain the significance of recycling and its impact on the environment.
16. Describe how the human body’s immune system works.
17. Explain the causes and effects of a significant historical event.
18. Write about how a particular invention changed the world.
19. Describe the process of creating a movie or a television show.
20. Explain the importance and process of goal setting and planning for the future.

Narrative Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

These narrative writing prompts encourage middle school students to tell a story, either about themselves, someone else, or a completely fictional scenario. This type of writing helps students develop their storytelling skills, enhances their creativity, and allows them to express their thoughts and experiences in an engaging way. Here’s a list of narrative writing prompts for middle school students:

1. Write about a time you faced a difficult decision and how you resolved it.
2. Imagine you can time travel; describe your first adventure.
3. Tell the story of a day when everything went wrong.
4. Write about your most cherished memory with a friend or family member.
5. Imagine you woke up one day and could speak another language fluently. What would happen?
6. Describe a moment when you tried something outside of your comfort zone.
7. Tell a story about a mysterious object you found and its origins.
8. Write about a time you helped someone and how it made you feel.
9. Imagine a day in the life of your pet. What adventures do they have?
10. Describe your dream vacation and what would make it special.
11. Write a story about meeting a famous person in an unexpected place.
12. Tell the tale of a historical event from the perspective of someone who lived through it.
13. Imagine a world where children are in charge. What would it be like?
14. Write about the day you had a surprising encounter with wildlife.
15. Describe a time when you overcame a significant challenge.
16. Tell a story about a journey to a magical place.
17. Write about the day you made an unlikely friend.
18. Imagine discovering a secret room in your house. What’s inside?
19. Describe a time when you achieved something you didn’t think was possible.
20. Write about a day in the future, 50 years from now. What has changed? What has stayed the same?

Story Starters for Middle School Students

These story starters are engaging, imaginative prompts that provide the opening sentence or scene of a story. These starters will ignite the imagination, encouraging students to explore various genres, characters, and plots. They’re an excellent tool for overcoming writer’s block and for practicing narrative development, character creation, and setting establishment. Here’s a list of story starters for middle school students:

1. “As the mysterious music played, the ancient book on the table suddenly flew open.”
2. “Lost in the forest, I stumbled upon a hidden cottage made entirely of candy.”
3. “The moment I put on the strange glasses, I could see into the future.”
4. “Under my bed, I found a map leading to a secret underground city.”
5. “When I woke up, I realized I had switched places with my pet.”
6. “The old clock in the town square struck thirteen times, and then everything changed.”
7. “I discovered a hidden door in the school library that led to a different world.”
8. “On my way to school, I found a mysterious golden key with my name on it.”
9. “During the night, all of my dreams escaped from my mind and became reality.”
10. “The mirror in my room showed a reflection of a place I had never seen before.”
11. “As I read the last page of the diary, the ghostly writer appeared in front of me.”
12. “The new kid at school could do something no one else could – talk to animals.”
13. “In the attic, I found a dusty old board game that turned out to be real.”
14. “The picture in the museum started to move and reached out to me.”
15. “I got a mysterious package in the mail with no return address. Inside was a magical object.”
16. “During a thunderstorm, our house was suddenly transported to a different world.”
17. “I found a strange old coin on the ground that had the power to grant wishes, but each wish came with a price.”
18. “While exploring the beach, I stumbled upon a message in a bottle from a stranded pirate.”
19. “In the garden, I discovered a plant that grew overnight and whispered secrets.”
20. “When I looked through the telescope, I saw not stars, but the eyes of something watching.”

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