10 quick essay writing prompts
Writing essays on your own is a great way to improve your writing skills. Coming up with your own essay assignments isn't always easy, though, so we've compiled a quick list of ten helpful essay writing prompts for you.
- Every cloud has a silver lining.
- Embarrassing experiences
- Changing your mind
- The first time you remember being angry.
- An unexpected happening at a family gathering.
- A friend surprised you (pleasantly).
- A friend surprised you (unpleasantly).
- A failure that you still think about.
- A success that you still think about.
- A historical figure you'd like to meet, and why.
Challenging Prompts
Discuss the "silver lining" behind a bad experience you've personally had, a current event, or a historical event. Could the silver lining have been predicted, or was it completely unexpected? Do you think the silver lining makes up for the negative aspects of the event?
While an embarrassing experience may not come to mind as your first choice for an essay topic, they're a great topic to explore your descriptive skills. Conveying an embarrassing experience requires both the ability to describe events in detail as well as being able to express emotions effectively.
Some of our opinions and beliefs are deeply held and difficult to change. Those times in life when something manages to uproot one of these deeply held opinions is ripe material for writing an essay. Think back to a time when you were positive you believed one way - but something came along and changed your mind.
More Prompts
Tapping into early childhood memories is always great material for essay writing prompts. Think about other "firsts" for more inspiration!
Family events are offer a wealth of opportunity to describe people and places, often those you know very well, so are perfect for writing practice.
Being surprised, whether pleasantly or otherwise, is a good topic to write about from a narrative point of view.
Choosing an "unpleasant" surprise gives you the opportunity to write about different types of situaitons and emotions.
Writing about our failures is cathartic, and it's also great practice for essay writing. Often the reasons for failing and the things we contemplate afterwards are complex ideas that challenge us to write better in order to express them clearly.
Successes that last a long time in our thoughts are usually important for multiple reasons; they have had a lasting effect on our lives, or taught us valuable lessons.
Tap into your imagination to improve your writing as well with this classic, fun prompt!