- Narrative: The writer tells a story about a real life experience.
- Descriptive: The writer uses descriptive words to make that appeal to the senses to draw out emotion from the reader.
- Expository: The writer uses facts and statistics to teach the readers something.
- Persuasive: The writer uses facts, expert opinion, logic, and sound reasoning, while presenting all sides of the argument. The intent is to communicate why a certain standpoint is correct.
Practice Writing Prompts.
1. Think about a time when you faced a challenge. Write a story about that time, including how you dealt with the challenge and what its outcome was. Be sure to narrate an event or a series of events and to include specific details so that the reader can follow your story.
2. Write a story about a time when you taught something to someone. What you taught could be a song, an activity, a game, a way of figuring out a homework problem, or something else. Be sure to narrate an event or a series of events and to include specific details so that the reader can follow your story.
3. Think about an event in your life that taught you an important lesson. Write a narrative in which you tell what happened and how you learned a lesson. Be sure to include specific details so that a reader can follow your story.
Descriptive:
1. Think about your favorite season, and then write an essay describing that season. Include sensory details so that a reader can imagine what it is like to experience the season, and make sure it is clear from your description why this season is your favorite.
2. Think of a time when you experienced a rainstorm. In a composition, use sensory details to describe what the rainstorm was like so that a classmate could clearly imagine the experience.
3. Most people have a place where they feel comfortable and relaxed. Think of a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed. Picture it in your mind. In a composition, describe this place for your classmates so that they can imagine what it is like and how you feel there.
Expository:
1. Write an essay explaining the importance of being able to see a situation from another person's point of view.
2. Write an essay explaining why it is important to forgive.
3. Music plays an important role in every culture and in every individual's life. Write an essay explaining the role music plays in your culture or in your own life.
4. Write an essay explaining what makes a great leader.
5. Some people feel that the public school system does not adequately prepare students for the real world. Identify one improvement you think schools need to make in order to better prepare students for life after high school. Write a letter to the school board in which you describe this improvement and explain why it is needed.
Persuasive:
1. Occasionally, students in elementary school are allowed to advance to the next grade even though they have not successfully completed the lower grade. Advocates of “ social promotion” think that keeping a child in a grade for longer than a year hurts his or her development and self esteem. Write an essay stating your opinion on this issue, making sure to support your opinion with convincing reasons.
2. A well-known football coach once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Write an essay in which you state your position and support it with convincing reasons.
3. Your local school board is considering requiring students to take part in community service programs in order to graduate. What is your position concerning this issue? Write a letter to the members of the school board stating your position and supporting it with convincing reasons. Be sure to explain your reasons in detail.
4. Some people believe it's better to grow up in a small town. Other people think it's better to grow up in a big city. What is your position on this issue, and what reasons support your position?
Writing prompts were found HERE.