Encourage high school students to stretch their writing skills using this collection of engaging high school writing prompts.
Whether you want students to express their beliefs or share what they know, these writing prompts for high school will help to serve the purpose.
That’s why these prompts make a great addition to your writing activities collection.
What’s more, these high school writing prompts activate critical thinking, boost confidence in expressing one’s thoughts, and sharpen writing skills.
So schedule into your weekly lesson plans a handful of these high-interest high school writing prompts.
Related: best bell ringers for high school
High School Writing Prompts
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being in high school?
2. Explain step-by-step how to build a campfire.
3. Write a short autobiography about your life.
4. Tell about your favorite music and why you like it.
5. What would you like to express to adults about what it’s like to be a high school student in this time period?
6. Why do you think some people are bullies?
7. Write a letter to your future self 20 years from now.
8. What qualities make a house a home? Explain your thinking.
9. Explain step-by-step how to care for a pet.
10. What learning experiences have you had in high school that will be useful to you after high school?
11. Why do you think it’s helpful to respond to high school writing prompts?
12. Which do you think is best: online learning or in-person learning? Explain.
13. Compare and contrast your current grade level with your previous one.
14. Write about what you think the world will be like in 100 years.
15. If you were to start your own YouTube channel, what would your channel be about and why?
16. Describe a gift that can’t be wrapped.
17. If you could start a business, what kind would you start and why?
18. Write a story that takes place on Friday, the 13th.
19. Pretend you founded a new city. Describe this new place.
20. Draft a recipe for something that is not food.
21. Create a story about you as an emoji. What is a typical day like for you?
22. In the morning, once everyone leaves for the day, items in your closet start talking. Create a story about what’s going on.
23, Describe a usual day in the life of a water bottle.
24. Invent a new online game, and describe how to play it.
25. Write a story about what life would be like if your pet ran your household.
26. Imagine that your house has a mysterious history. Write a story about what happened before you lived there.
27. Write a story about trading places with your favorite celebrity for a day.
28. Draft a story about a character who has two big problems.
29. Write about a character who has the superpower of changing colors like a chameleon.
30. For a day, you are a chair. Tell about a typical day in your life.
31. Write about a character who pretends to be illiterate but is actually a well-respected author.
32. Rewrite the ending to your favorite movie fairy tale.
33. Write a story that includes these three elements: sand, mermaid, swim
34. I unwrapped the gift, and what was inside shocked the room…
35. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be and why?
36. Imagine that you are a social media superstar. Describe a typical day in your life.
37. Should community service be a requirement in order to graduate? Explain.
38. Persuade your teacher to change one classroom rule that you feel is too strict or unfair.
39. Write a letter convincing the principal to extend art, music, p.e, and drama classes during the school day.
40. Explain to a younger student the importance of keeping his/her desk organized.
41. Persuade your foreign language teacher to start a language Club.
42. Make an argument for or against the use of standardized tests to judge students’ learning performances.
43. Write a letter persuading the cafeteria staff to make changes to the lunch menu.
44. What does your dream job look like?
45. Convince your parents to allow you to apply for an after-school job.
46. Write a speech convincing your classmates to vote for you as class president.
47. Among an adult, child, or teenager, which is the best age period and why?
48. Explain the power of music in helping one to relax.
49. Describe the funniest teacher you’ve ever had.
50. Write about a time that you laughed uncontrollably.
51. Share a story about something that happened at school that you will remember forever.
52. Rewrite a childhood classic story with a humorous twist.
53. Retell the funniest joke you’ve ever heard.
54. Write about a time that you embarrassed yourself in front of classmates.
55. Tell a story about a day when everything went wrong.
56. Describe the best April Fool’s Day joke you’ve ever experienced.
57. Write a story about an entire day where everyone at school walks backwards.
58. Explain the story behind your name.
59. Write about a time you became very angry.
60. Summarize a good book you read recently.
61. If you could teach any school subject, what would it be and why?
Final Thoughts
Now you have a varied collection of high school writing prompts that even motivate reluctant writers.
If you found these high school writing prompts helpful, you may be interested in … high school writing project ideas.