8th Grade Writing SOL Prompts – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Where is one place in the world you would like to visit? Explain why you would want to visit this place, and what you would want to do or see once you arrive. Include specific details and examples in your response
answer
One place in the world that I would like to visit is New York City because it has many beautiful landmarks, I want to see a play on Broadway, and the city has very good pizza.
question
Write about someone who has shared wisdom and experience with you. Explain why it is important to learn from the experience of others. Include specific details and examples in your response.
answer
Someone who has shared an experience with me is my friend Alex and I think it is important to share experience with others they will last a very long time.
question
Think about how daily life, from reading to playing games to communicating with others, has changed over the past hundred years because of technology. Using specific details and examples, explain how these advancements in technology have changed daily life.
answer
Advances in technology have changed daily life because people are able to connect and see people on the other side of the world.
question
Most schools offer a variety of activities, classes, and clubs. Identify one of these that students enjoy and explain why they enjoy it. Include specific details and examples in your response.
answer
One activity that students enjoy is writing because it gives you the opportunity to be creative.
question
Community parks, state parks, and national parks provide a wide variety of interesting activities. Write about an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors. Using specific details and examples, explain why someone might find that activity enjoyable.
answer
An enjoyable way to spend time outdoors is with friends because you can hang out with them.
question
What are the advantages of earning your own money to purchase something special? Explain the advantages using specific details and examples in your response.
answer
The advantages to earning my own money to make purchases are that I get to buy what I want to buy.
question
When people ask for advice, they sometimes talk to more than one person. Explain why seeking multiple opinions can help someone make a better choice. Use specific details and examples in your response.
answer
Seeking multiple opinions helps someone make a better choice because they have different points of view and having multiple people gives you more options to choose from.
question
Identify an enjoyable educational activity. It could be participating in a play, completing a science experiment, playing an instrument, or something else. Use specific details and examples to explain why the activity is enjoyable.
answer
Identify an enjoyable educational activity. It could be participating in a play, completing a science experiment, playing an instrument, or something else. Use specific details and examples to explain why the activity is enjoyable.
question
You have been asked to share a lesson with elementary school students. Using specific details and examples, explain the lesson and why it would be important.
answer
A lesson I would share with an elementary school student is how to open a locker because they wouldn't be late to classes in their first week of school and it would make them able to put stuff in the lockers easily.
question
Your assignment is to design a neighborhood of the future. Explain what you would include in a neighborhood of the future and why. Include specific details and examples in your design.
answer
If I were to create a neighborhood of the future, I would include flying cars because people have been dreaming of using them and I would want to make it happen.
question
People often credit their successes to having good attitudes. Explain the benefits of having a good attitude, even during a difficult time. Provide examples from your own experience or from having witnessed this in others.
answer
It is beneficial to have a good attitude even during bad times because it is easier to get through bad times when you are looking to what it'll be like when it is over.
question
The ancient Greek storyteller Aesop said, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Explain how small acts of kindness can have an impact on others. Use specific details and examples in your response.
answer
Small acts of kindness can impact others because they will remember the act and will do small acts of kindness to other people.
question
Thoughtful acts can take many forms, such as unexpected help or even just a kind word. Explain how a thoughtful act can benefit those involved. Use specific details and examples in your response.
answer
A thoughtful act can benefit those involved because they will know that you have their best interests in mind and will appreciate it.
question
Sometimes people recognize similarities between themselves and a character from a book or a movie. Write about a character from a book or a movie who you think is similar to you. What do you have in common with this character? Use specific details and examples in your response.
answer
The character Finn from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is similar to me because we both have a sense of humor and try to make a good change in the world.
question
Civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi wrote, "Be the change you want to see in the world." What is one way you would like to change the world, and how can you help to bring about this change? Use specific details and examples in your response.
answer
One way I can work to be a change in the world is by teaching others good values and I can bring about this change by becoming a history teacher and teaching others how to change the world.
question
What makes someone a success? Explain how you define success, using specific details and examples in your response.
answer
To me, success is defined by your impact in the history of the world.
question
American jazz legend Duke Ellington said, "A problem is a chance for you to do your best." Explain the meaning of this statement and whether you agree or disagree with it. Use specific details and examples in your response.
answer
I agree with Duke Ellington's statement that "A problem is a chance for you to do your best" because every time that you encounter a problem, there is a way to solve it.
question
Is it better to take risks and perhaps make some mistakes or remain cautious and risk nothing? Explain using specific details and examples in your response.
answer
I believe that it is better to take risks because if you are able to pull it off there could be great rewards. I believe that it is better to remain cautious because if you aren't able to accomplish it then you could lose a lot.
question
The Roman philosopher Cicero wrote, "Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself." However, parents, friends, and teachers often offer advice. Should people listen to their own advice or to the advice of others? Use specific details and examples to support your response
answer
I believe that people should listen to their own advice because they would be able to benefit from it. I believe that people should listen to the advice of others because other people can offer differing views than you.
question
What is something you would like to accomplish in the future? Perhaps you would like to learn how to play an instrument, graduate at the top of your class, or visit the ocean. Identify one thing you would like to accomplish, and include specific details and examples to help explain why it is important.
answer
Something I would like to accomplish in the future is becoming a writer because it is something that I love to do.
question
Some people enjoy public speaking while others are frightened by it. Using specific details and examples, explain how you feel about public speaking.
answer
I like speaking in public because it gives you a chance to get your voice heard by other people. I don't like speaking in public because people might not like what you say.
question
Some schools have a program that pairs older students with younger students. The older students are available to assist the younger students. How would this program help both the older and the younger students? Explain the effects of such a program on the students involved.
answer
A program that pairs older students with younger students is beneficial because older people can teach younger people good things so that they won't make the same mistakes.
question
There is a common saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Think of something that has an unattractive appearance but that has special meaning to someone for other reasons. It might be an old car, a well-used toy, a faded photograph, or something else. Identify the object and explain why it has special meaning.
answer
I agree with the saying that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover because what is underneath is more important than what is outside.
question
Competition is a constant presence in today's schools, where students not only compete with one another in the classroom but also in sports and in various extracurricular activities. Explain how competition can improve life or make it more difficult for students. Use specific details and examples in your response.
answer
I think that competition can improve life for some students because it gives them a chance to learn what losing is like and how to recover from it.
question
Some people believe owning a pet is important, while others do not. Using specific details and examples to support your position, argue for or against owning a pet.
answer
I believe that owning a pet is important because it teaches people how to care for animals.
question
Identify a challenge facing students, and use specific details and examples to explain ways to overcome that challenge.
answer
A challenge facing students is stress because they strive to do their best and when they don't they get sad.
question
Everyone has a talent or skill. Identify a talent or skill you have, and explain how you develop and use it. Use specific details and examples in your response.
answer
A talent or skill that I have is writing and the way I develop it is by continuing to write stories and get feedback from other people.
question
If you could make a significant change to the structure or appearance of your school, what would it be? Identify the change you would make, and explain why you would make it.
answer
If I could make a significant change to my school, it would be having more languages offered because then people can have the opportunity to explore different choices.
question
Scientist Albert Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Include specific details and examples to convince others to support your position.
answer
I agree with Albert Einstein's statement, "Imagination is more important than knowledge" because imagination can lead to new discoveries and increasing your knowledge.
question
People sometimes say that failure can eventually lead to success. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use specific examples to convince others to support your position.
answer
I agree that failure can sometimes lead to success because you get to learn from your mistakes and how you can improve.
question
Students often learn how to budget their time in order to complete important tasks and still have time for themselves. Explain how learning to budget time is an important skill for students. Use specific details and examples in your response.
answer
I believe that budgeting my time is an important skill because otherwise I would be overwhelmed and wouldn't have time to relax.
question
Your school is considering making a change to the dress code. What is one change that you would recommend, and why is it important? Use specific details and examples to justify this change.
answer
One change I would suggest to the school dress code is nothing because I believe that is okay the way it is.
question
Studies have shown that people who take short breaks throughout the day to do light, outdoor exercise are more productive than those who do not. Use specific details and examples to convince your principal whether students should have similar breaks during the school day.
answer
I think that students should have time to do short, light exercise outside because it gives people time to relax and exercise is proven to make people smarter.
question
Many teachers assign group projects. Sometimes, however, an uncooperative member can affect the entire group. Argue for or against the use of group projects using specific details and examples.
answer
I think that teachers should continue to use group projects in class because it gives students the chance to learn how to work with other people, which is a life skill they will need to have later on.
question
Studies have shown that one way to improve student achievement is to start an after-school homework club. Teachers and students volunteer to meet with those who either have difficulty in certain subjects or who want to finish their homework early. Use specific details and examples to argue for or against the idea of establishing homework clubs in your school.
answer
I believe that an after school homework club should be established because people who have lots of distractions at home can have a nice, quiet place to work and students who need help with homework can get help.
question
Many schools have partnerships with local companies and organizations that allow students to explore certain professions. Write a letter to the manager of a local workplace that performs the type of work you would like to pursue. Convince the employer to allow you to visit. Include details about why you chose that workplace and the specific job.
answer
I believe that I deserve an opportunity to visit and observe Europe because I can get to learn about new cultures and people in other countries and I will also be able to get a taste of other countries before I take the CISL program.
question
Your principal has decided that all students must participate in at least one extracurricular activity. For example, students could participate in sports, work on the yearbook, or serve on the student council. Do you agree or disagree with this decision? Use specific details and examples to convince others to support your position.
answer
I agree that students should participate in extracurricular activities because it looks good on college applications and it can also give students a chance to try new things and meet new people.
question
The school board plans to add one and a half hours to school each day. Do you agree or disagree with extending the school day? Use specific details and examples to convince the school board to accept your position.
answer
I agree with the school board's decision that school should be extended by an hour and a half each day because it gives students the opportunity to learn more and get ready for the SOL's. I disagree with the school board's decision to extend school by an hour and a half because some people have things that they do right after school and they might not be able to do those things.
question
Some people think that schools should offer only nutritious drinks such as white milk, water, and natural fruit juice. Do you agree or disagree with this policy? Use specific details and examples to convince your principal to accept your position.
answer
I agree that schools should only offer healthy drinks such as milk, water, and natural fruit juice because it makes students healthier and they can focus better in class.
question
Many professional athletes and entertainers earn large sums of money. Do you agree or disagree with these individuals making high salaries? Use specific details and examples to convince others to support your position.
answer
I agree that professional athletes and entertainers should make high salaries because they work a lot and are good at what they do, and they love what they do. I disagree that professional athletes and entertainers should make high salaries because other people like teachers who work hard and work to benefit other people are getting less money and deserve more.
question
What improvement would make your community better? Use specific details and examples to convince the mayor of your community to accept your idea for improving where you live.
answer
An improvement that would make my community better is a neighborhood clean-up because there is a lot of trash in the neighborhood and if we take it away, the city will be a more beautiful place.
