prompt essay definition

What Is a Prompt in Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 200 Examples)

Ever stumbled upon a blank page and didn’t know where to start?

That’s where a writing prompt steps in, kicking your creativity into gear and guiding your pen (or cursor) in the right direction.

What is a prompt in writing?

A prompt in writing is a starting point designed to ignite creativity, guiding writers to explore themes, genres, or emotions. It can be a word, question, image, or scenario, aiding in overcoming writer’s block.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about prompts in writing.

What Is a Prompt in Writing (Long Description)?

Table of Contents

A writing prompt is essentially a starting point.

Think of it as a spark designed to ignite your creativity and guide your thoughts in a specific direction.

This little nudge can come in various forms – a word, a sentence, a question, or even a picture – and serves the purpose of inspiring you to write.

Whether you’re drafting a story, an essay, or just jotting down your thoughts, prompts help overcome the intimidation of a blank page.

It sets a predefined theme or direction for your writing.

They’re not just about what you write, but how you think and approach writing, encouraging you to explore new ideas, genres, and perspectives.

Here is a good video that explains prompts in writing:

Types of Prompts in Writing

Now let’s go over different types of prompts in writing.

Common prompt types include:

The Story Starter

The question quest, picture this, the first line frenzy.

The Story Starter is your classic nudge towards narrative creativity.

It’s a sentence or scenario meant to kick off your storytelling journey, helping you dive straight into the plot, characters, or setting.

This type of prompt is great for fiction writers looking for a jumping-off point to explore various themes or genres.

It can be as detailed or as open-ended as you like, providing just enough information to spark an idea without dictating the direction of your story.

• “When the clock struck midnight, she realized…”
• “Lost in the forest, he stumbled upon a hidden village…”
• “The last person on Earth sat alone in a room. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door…”
• “In a world where magic is real, a young apprentice discovers…”
• “The photograph in the old book revealed a secret that would change everything…”
• “Stranded on a desert island, they found a message in a bottle…”
• “On her hundredth birthday, she received a letter that took her back to her youth…”
• “The map led them to a place that wasn’t supposed to exist…”
• “In the midst of war, a forbidden love blossomed…”
• “He inherited an old mansion, not knowing the ancestors would still be around…”

The Question Quest prompt type uses intriguing questions to push your thinking boundaries and explore ideas in depth.

It’s perfect for essays, reflective writing, or exploring complex themes and issues.

These prompts challenge you to consider different perspectives, analyze situations, and develop reasoned arguments or narratives based on the question posed.

• “What would you do if you could travel back in time?”
• “How would society change if humans lived to be 300 years old?”
• “Is it possible to live a completely ethical life in today’s world?”
• “What does true bravery look like?”
• “How would the discovery of extraterrestrial life impact humanity?”
• “What is the true cost of progress?”
• “Can happiness be measured?”
• “What role does fate play in our lives?”
• “Is technology bringing us closer together or driving us apart?”
• “What would you change if you were the leader of your country for a day?”

Picture This prompts use images as the springboard for writing.

A photograph, painting, or even a random doodle can unlock a flood of creativity.

Which makes it an excellent tool for both fiction and non-fiction writers.

This visual cue encourages you to dive into descriptive writing, storytelling, or even analytical essays, exploring the emotions, stories, or ideas evoked by the image.

• A deserted street at dawn, with an old bicycle leaning against a lamppost.
• A vintage suitcase, open and filled with letters and photographs.
• A bustling market scene in a foreign country.
• A child gazing out of a rain-spattered window.
• A majestic mountain range under the stars.
• An abandoned house, its rooms still furnished but covered in dust.
• A close-up of a spider web with dewdrops.
• A lively street festival, with people dancing and musicians playing.
• An old, faded map with several places marked in red.
• A serene lake at sunset, with a lone boat tied to a wooden dock.

The First Line Frenzy is a thrilling way to dive into a story.

These prompts provide the opening sentence of your narrative, setting the tone and direction for everything that follows.

It’s a fantastic method for overcoming writer’s block and sparking your imagination, as the initial line can lead to unexpected and exciting story developments.

• “The day began with a mysterious package on my doorstep.”
• “I never believed in ghosts until I moved into the old Henderson house.”
• “The moment I heard the news, I knew my life would never be the same.”
• “Under the light of a full moon, the city revealed its true secrets.”
• “It was the kind of café you’d stumble upon once and never find again.”
• “With a deep breath, I stepped into the unknown.”
• “The letter, sealed with a wax emblem, contained a proposition I couldn’t refuse.”
• “As the train pulled away, she realized her mistake.”
• “In the heart of the ancient forest, a hidden path led to unexpected wonders.”
• “The discovery promised to rewrite history, but at what cost?”

Dialogue Driven

Dialogue Driven prompts center around a snippet of conversation, offering a dynamic entry point into your writing.

This approach is particularly effective for character development and exploring relationships through direct speech.

It can set the scene, reveal personalities, and drive the plot forward, all through the power of dialogue.

• “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?” “I was hoping.”
• “Why is this door always locked?” “You’re not ready to know what’s behind it.”
• “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” “That’s where you’re wrong.”
• “The stars look different here.” “Everything does.”
• “I wish I could stay.” “Then why are you leaving?”
• “It’s not about what I want anymore.” “Then what’s it about?”
• “I’ve never seen anything like it.” “And you never will again.”
• “Can you keep a secret?” “Depends on the secret.”
• “We’re not in Kansas anymore.” “We’re not even on the same planet.”
• “It was supposed to be a simple plan.” “Since when does anything go according to plan?”

The Sensory Dive

The Sensory Dive prompts are designed to immerse you and your reader in vivid, sensory-rich experiences.

These prompts encourage descriptive writing that appeals to the senses, painting a scene so tangible that readers feel they can touch, taste, hear, see, and smell it.

It’s a powerful tool for creating immersive worlds and experiences.

• Describe the cacophony of a bustling city market at noon.
• The taste of the first snowflake of winter.
• The scent of old books in a forgotten library.
• The feeling of sand between your toes as waves crash on the shore.
• The sight of a landscape transformed by autumn’s touch.
• The sound of a distant thunderstorm approaching.
• The warmth of a crackling fire on a cold night.
• The chill of walking through a foggy graveyard at dusk.
• The texture of an ancient, carved stone.
• The silence of a snow-covered forest.

The What-If Wonder

The What-If Wonder prompts take you on a journey of imagination, exploring alternate realities and scenarios.

These prompts ask you to consider how different choices, events, or conditions might alter the world, characters, or story.

It’s an excellent way to delve into speculative fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, pushing the boundaries of reality.

• What if humans had the ability to communicate telepathically?
• What if gravity suddenly became a variable force on Earth?
• What if you woke up 100 years in the past with your current memories intact?
• What if plants were the dominant intelligent species on the planet?
• What if you could see the future but only 24 hours ahead?
• What if water was as rare as gold?
• What if everyone had their lifespan displayed above their heads?
• What if you found a door that could take you to parallel universes?
• What if animals could petition for their rights?
• What if dreams were actually glimpses into alternate realities?

The Emotional Rollercoaster

The Emotional Rollercoaster prompt is all about exploring the depths of human emotion, challenging you to convey complex feelings and reactions.

These prompts are perfect for delving into character development, interpersonal relationships, and personal reflection.

By focusing on the emotional landscape, writers can create compelling narratives that resonate with readers on a deeply personal level.

• The moment you realized you were in love.
• Feeling utterly lost in a place you once called home.
• The bitter sweetness of a farewell.
• Overcoming a fear that once held you back.
• The complex emotions of reuniting with someone after many years.
• The guilt of a lie that spiraled out of control.
• The rush of achieving something you thought was impossible.
• The profound sadness of losing a cherished memory to time.
• The unexpected joy found in a simple act of kindness.
• The peace of accepting things you cannot change.

The Genre Blender

The Genre Blender prompts encourage you to mix elements from different genres, creating unique and innovative narratives.

These prompts are excellent for writers looking to break the mold and experiment with their storytelling.

Whether it’s combining science fiction with historical fiction or fantasy with mystery, the possibilities are endless.

• A detective in a dystopian future solving a crime that could change the course of history.
• A romance blossoming in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.
• A fantasy world where magic is dying, and technology is on the rise.
• A historical drama set in ancient Rome, but with a twist of time travel.
• A horror story set in space, aboard a ship with a mysterious alien artifact.
• A western where the frontier towns are protected by wizards instead of gunslingers.
• A cyberpunk thriller featuring a heist in a virtual reality world.
• A mystery set in a magical school where the students must uncover a dark secret.
• A superhero story grounded in the real-world challenges of modern society.
• An adventure tale that blends deep-sea exploration with ancient mythology.

The Time Traveler’s Gateway

The Time Traveler’s Gateway prompts explore the intricacies of time travel, its implications, and its paradoxes.

This type of prompt is perfect for science fiction and speculative fiction writers, offering a playground for the imagination that challenges our understanding of time, history, and causality.

• Discovering a time machine in your backyard and deciding where to go first.
• A message from the future warning of an impending disaster.
• The consequences of changing a small event in the past.
• A society where time travel is common, but strictly regulated.
• An ancient civilization that had advanced time travel technology.
• Meeting your ancestors and learning their secrets.
• The ethical dilemmas of using time travel for personal gain.
• A love story that transcends time barriers.
• The discovery that history is a construct, shaped by time travelers.
• A time loop where the protagonist must solve a puzzle to escape.

The World Builder’s Dream

The World Builder’s Dream prompts invite you to create entire worlds from scratch.

This type of prompt is a boon for fantasy and science fiction writers, offering the freedom to craft unique settings, cultures, laws of nature, and societies.

It’s an opportunity to let your imagination run wild and establish the groundwork for epic tales.

• A planet where the seasons last for decades.
• A city built entirely on the back of a giant, wandering creature.
• A society where people’s roles are determined by their innate magical abilities.
• An underwater civilization that has never seen the surface.
• A world where dreams can be entered and manipulated.
• A floating island nation that travels the skies.
• A dystopian future where memories can be bought and sold.
• A kingdom where music is the source of all magic.
• A realm where the night lasts half the year.
• An alternate Earth where the continents never split apart.

The Unseen Perspective

The Unseen Perspective prompts challenge you to write from the viewpoint of non-human characters or entities.

This approach forces you to step outside the human experience and consider the world from a completely different angle.

It’s a fantastic way to explore themes of consciousness, nature, and the interconnectedness of life.

• The life of a tree over centuries, witnessing the changes in the world.
• A day in the life of a household pet during a major family event.
• The thoughts of a spaceship AI as it travels through the cosmos.
• The experiences of a ghost haunting an old mansion.
• A story told from the perspective of a river, from source to sea.
• The journey of a single leaf from sprout to falling to the ground.
• The collective consciousness of a hive of bees facing environmental challenges.
• The ancient spirit of a mountain overseeing its surroundings.
• The adventures of a book as it passes from reader to reader, experiencing different interpretations and emotions.
• The perspective of a city as it grows and evolves over centuries, through peace and conflict.

The Emotional Journey

The Emotional Journey prompts focus on the internal growth and transformation of characters.

It invites writers to delve into personal development, self-discovery, and the overcoming of obstacles.

This type of prompt is ideal for character-driven narratives, where the emphasis is on emotional depth and the evolution of the protagonist’s inner self.

• A character grappling with the loss of a loved one and finding a way to move forward.
• The journey of self-acceptance for someone who feels out of place in their world.
• A hero facing their darkest fears in order to save what they cherish most.
• A villain’s realization of the impact of their actions and their quest for redemption.
• A young adult’s transition into independence and the challenges they face along the way.
• The transformation of a skeptic into a believer through a series of unexplainable events.
• The struggle of a character to forgive themselves and others for past mistakes.
• The process of rebuilding one’s life after a catastrophic event.
• A character’s journey from indifference to passionate advocacy for a cause.
• The evolving relationship between two characters who start as rivals and become allies.

The Moral Dilemma

The Moral Dilemma prompts put characters in situations where they must make difficult choices, often between two equally undesirable options.

These prompts are great for exploring ethical questions, character morality, and the complexity of human nature.

They challenge writers to think deeply about what it means to make a “right” decision.

• Choosing between saving a loved one or a group of strangers from danger.
• Deciding whether to expose a painful truth that could destroy a friend’s happiness.
• The choice of upholding the law or doing what is morally right in a corrupt society.
• A character must decide whether to seek revenge or forgive an unforgivable act.
• The dilemma of sacrificing personal dreams for the greater good.
• Deciding whether to keep a secret that protects one person but harms others.
• A leader’s choice between peace at the cost of justice or war for the sake of freedom.
• The ethical implications of using advanced technology to alter human nature.
• A scientist faces a moral conflict over a discovery that could change the world but has dangerous implications.
• The struggle of a character who finds out that their entire life is based on a lie and must choose how to react.

The Creative Challenge

The Creative Challenge prompts are designed to push the boundaries of conventional storytelling.

It encourages experimentation with narrative structure, style, and content.

These prompts invite writers to play with unconventional formats, such as a story told in reverse, a narrative composed entirely of dialogue, or a tale that weaves multiple perspectives into a cohesive whole.

• A story told through a series of diary entries, each revealing a piece of the puzzle.
• A narrative structured as a series of text messages between characters.
• A tale that begins with its conclusion and works backward to the start.
• A story where each chapter is from the perspective of a different character, all revolving around a single event.
• A narrative composed entirely of letters sent between two characters.
• A story told through the lens of an inanimate object witnessing events unfold.
• A tale that intertwines the past and present, revealing how they mirror and affect each other.
• A narrative that challenges the concept of linear time, mixing moments from various points in the characters’ lives.
• A story where the setting changes in each chapter, influencing the plot and characters in unique ways.
• A narrative that plays with genre conventions, blending elements from different genres in unexpected ways.

Final Thoughts: What Is a Prompt in Writing?

I hope this guide “prompts” you to understanding, creativity, and motivation to write.

Check out some of our other great guides below.

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What Is a Writing Prompt and What Types There Are?

June 2, 2022

What Is An Essay Prompt?

Understanding writing prompts, types of writing prompts, how to write a prompt, how to respond to essay writing prompts for beginners, key takeaways.

Do you love writing but sometimes feel stuck or uninspired? Are you looking for a way to jumpstart your creative process ? If so, writing prompts may be just what you need. But what is a writing prompt and what is its role in writing?

In this article, we will discuss the definition of a writing prompt, explore different types of prompts, and learn how to write one yourself.

What Is a Writing Prompt?

A writing prompt is a sentence, paragraph, or (rarer) an image that provides inspiration and guidance for creative writing . It may be used as a possible topic or starting point for an original essay, report, journal entry, story, poem, etc. A writing prompt’s main aim is to test a writer’s analytical capabilities, writing skills, and ability to express their point of view.

Writing prompts for students have long been used in the classroom to encourage student attention and develop their capacity to focus on a certain subject, idea, or concept. They also give students the chance to express their own opinions on a certain topic. Prompts stimulate students’ critical thinking and offer them an opportunity to construct a well-reasoned, structured argument in response to another writer’s viewpoint.

An essay prompt is a subtype of the writing prompt. Essay prompts are generally made up of 1 to 3 sentences that provide some context about the subject, followed by a question that asks students to write about a certain topic in the form of an essay .

The goal is to get students to respond with an essay focusing on a statement or issue in order to assess their writing, reasoning, and analytical abilities.

Analyzing your writing prompt is easier if you highlight the important words while reading it . Here are some of the words you should watch out for:

• Argue – requires you to present facts that support your opinion
• Compare – determine the similarities and differences between two or more concepts
• Define – provide a definition of a specific concept or subject
• Discuss – explain various aspects of a subject or problem and reach a conclusion
• Describe – give a detailed description of an event or a particular person, place, or thing

Prompts can help improve your writing skills by providing practice in brainstorming, planning, drafting, revising, and editing . Daily writing prompts can also help you practice and develop your understanding of grammar when learning a new language .

Following are the most common types of writing prompts that students come across as a part of their degrees or continuing education programs:

Descriptive

Descriptive prompts frequently include cue terms such as “describe in detail,” “describe how something looked/felt/smelled/tasted,” and so on. In this type of writing, the reader should be able to experience what you’re writing about. Descriptive writing exercises frequently request writers to provide details that will help the reader construct a vivid picture by including sensory elements , such as sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

Expository/Informative

Expository writing prompts are a good writing practice for teens and college students. Expository prompts typically ask the writer to describe, compare and contrast, discuss pros and cons, or define something .

Expository writing has a particular purpose and audience in mind; as a result, the style and voice must correspond to the set subject and audience. The following words are used as cues to elicit expository answers: why, how, what, and explain.

The act of writing a narrative is the process of recording and telling events from one’s personal or fictional experience . Identifying what a narrative writing prompt look like is easy when you know what to look for. These prompts call for insight, creativity, drama, suspense, humor, and/or fantasy, and often contain the term “tell about…,” “write a story,” or “describe”.

Writers should use real or invented experiences when responding to narrative prompts. They should also incorporate dialogue, sensory elements, and sensible sequences into their response.

In this sort of prompt, the writers are expected to express their viewpoint on a certain subject, followed by logical reasoning and facts . This can either be a controversial issue or something light-hearted and fun. No matter what the topic is, if you’re wondering how to start a writing prompt like this, just make sure you’re clear and concise so that the reader knows exactly what is being discussed.

Persuasive prompts are writing prompts that require the writer to convince or persuade the reader to agree with a certain point of view . These types of prompts typically use cue words such as “convince,” “persuade,” and “why” rather than “how.”

To write a persuasive prompt, it is important to first brainstorm ideas and then narrow down your focus to come up with a creative and unique prompt. Remember to consider your audience when writing persuasive prompts.

The research approach to daily writing prompts encourages writers to look for information on a given topic using books, internet resources, films, etc . Such a writing assignment asks students to look up all the details and provide the resources as well, sometimes in the form of a bibliography .

When you start writing, no matter the type and form of the written piece, it’s important to consider your audience and purpose. When you’re responding to a written prompt that lists children as your target audience, for example, you’ll need to use age-appropriate language and focus on the topics that are interesting for the particular age group . Apart from the audience, you need to pay attention to the following factors, as well:

Prompt Construction

Breaking down the writing prompt into three parts is another useful approach for better conveying the task’s meaning:

• the first part introduces the subject
• the second part encourages writers to think about it, perhaps with a brainstorming pre-writing exercise
• the third portion explains what needs to be written

In order to avoid confusion, writing prompts should be brief and focused . The instructor must make sure that the students are provided with sufficient information in order for them to understand the writing assignment completely.

The components of the prompt can be repeated, but using parallel wording will help writers stay focused on the specific writing task.

Bias and Sensitivity

The topics of your creative writing prompts should be inclusive and fair to all potential writers . The prompts should be written in a way that allows writers to easily comprehend them, regardless of their cultural background or other variables. It’s important to avoid cultural, ethnic, gender, or any other form of bias when developing prompts.

After you’ve examined your prompt, it’s time to get creative and prepare for your essay writing:

• First, make a thesis statement to address the main issue . Your thesis statement should be the focal point of your whole essay and should reflect your stance on the issue.
• When responding to writing prompts for beginners, write simple topic sentences that cover all the criteria. Add any facts, elaborations, or evidence you need to back up your viewpoint.
• After you’ve finished, you may add more facts and smooth transitions between each phrase and paragraph . Make sure to include an eye-catching opening line in your first paragraph, as well as a conclusion that summarizes your ideas and thesis statement.

All in all, understanding what is a prompt in writing and how to respond to one is a key skill for all writers. By taking the time to analyze the prompt and brainstorm ideas, you’ll make sure that your written piece is clear, concise, and on-topic. Practicing with different types of prompts will help you hone your skills and become a more confident writer.

The three parts of a writing prompt are the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The introduction sets the tone for the rest of the piece, the body provides support for the thesis, and the conclusion ties everything together and leaves readers with a final thought or impression.

Most writing prompts consist of the following six parts: articulation of purpose, a summary of the assignment, logistics, paper’s key components, framing questions, and evaluation criteria.

What is a writing prompt supposed to be like in order to both challenge a writer and let them showcase their writing skills? It must be clear and concise, and possible to answer in a short amount of time. It should also be open-ended enough to allow for creative interpretation, not requiring prior knowledge in order to be answered.

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Writing Prompt (Composition)

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

A writing prompt is a brief passage of text (or sometimes an image) that provides a potential topic idea or starting point for an original essay , report , journal entry , story, poem, or other forms of writing. Writing prompts are commonly used in the essay portions of standardized tests, but they may also be devised by the writers themselves.

A writing prompt, according to Garth Sundem and Kristi Pikiewicz, usually has "two basic components: the prompt itself and directions explaining what the students should do with it." ( Writing in the Content Areas , 2006)

Examples and Observations

"Today is Kiss and Make Up Day, a day to fix relationships that need mending. " Prompt . Have you ever been in an argument with a friend or a member of your family? What was the disagreement over? How did you resolve it?" (Jacqueline Sweeney, Prompt a Day!: 360 Thought-Provoking Writing Prompts Keyed to Every Day of the School Year . Scholastic, 1998)

Elicting Insightful Responses

"Responses to writing prompts are typically more insightful than if a teacher allows students to simply write for a certain amount of time without specifying a topic." (Jacalyn Lund and Deborah Tannehill,  Standards-Based Physical Education Curriculum Development , 2nd ed. Jones and Bartlett, 2010)

Touching on Experiences

"Two characteristics of engaging . . . writing prompts are that they touch on experiences accessible to the students, and they allow for multiple ways to write an answer." (Stephen P. Balfour, "Teaching Writing and Assessment Skills." Improving Writing and Thinking Through Assessment , ed. by Teresa L. Flateby. IAP. 2011)

Writing Prompt for 'An Initiation'

"For the first assignment in the course, I'd like you to write a personal narrative that tells us something about who you are or what your interests are. The audience for this paper is the instructor and the class and the purpose is to introduce yourself to us in a way that will help all of us get to know each other. Be sure to include specific details that show rather than tell. Consult your class notes about writing successful narratives. Your narrative should be two to four pages long." (Julie Neff-Lippman in Concepts in Composition: Theory and Practice in the Teaching of Writing , 2nd ed., by Irene L. Clark. Routledge, 2012)

Understanding Writing Prompts

"To help build students' skill in reading and understanding a prompt, you should spend a class period analyzing two prompts by discussing the kinds of questions students need to ask themselves as they plan a writing response. . . . 1. What form of writing is the prompt asking for? 2. What ideas or arguments will the reader expect you to suggest? Would these points be good paragraph topics? 3. What does the prompt expect you to do? 4. Who is the audience for this essay? 5. Write a quick one-sentence answer to each question asked in the prompt. Use these answers to develop your outline and thesis ." (Sydell Rabin, Helping Students Write to a Prompt . Scholastic, 2002)

Responding to Writing Prompts on the SAT

"Topics for writing prompts tend to be broad, open-ended, and adaptable enough for any test-taker to find something to write about. Remember that you will not need any specific subject matter knowledge to answer the question. The excerpt in this sample is a typical example: The role of advertising is to induce people to buy goods and services. Advertising is neither moral nor immoral. It is ethically neutral. The writing prompt will most likely be based on a statement or a quotation . In order to answer the question that follows, you must understand what the excerpt is about. However, if you can't figure out the meaning or aren't sure, don't worry. The test-writers tell you the issue in the assignment. "However, don't ignore the excerpt. You may find some phrases that you can use in your essay. Referring back to the excerpt by paraphrasing it or using some words from it can be an effective technique." (Margaret Moran, Master Writing for the SAT: What You Need for Test Success . Peterson's, 2008)

Expository and Persuasive Writing Prompts

"An expository prompt asks you to define, explain, or tell how to do something. The following is an example of an expository writing prompt. Most people have a favorite season or time of year. Write an essay describing your favorite season. Discuss what makes that season special to you. "A persuasive prompt asks you to convince the reader to accept your opinion or to take a specific action. The following is an example of a persuasive writing prompt. To cut back on expenses, your principal has asked the school board for permission to cancel all field trips for the remainder of the year. Some people think this is a good idea because they consider a field trip a 'vacation' from learning and therefore an unnecessary expense. Write to the school board explaining your position on the issue. Use facts and examples to develop your argument. " (J. Brice and Dana Passananti, OGT Ohio Graduation Test: Reading and Writing . Research & Education Association, 2007)

Photographs as Writing Prompts

"Keep in mind that students from diverse cultures may respond differently or not relate at all to some photos, especially when the photos are of unfamiliar objects, places, or people. As you select photographs to share as prompts for this activity, make sure you introduce them to your students and allow students to ask questions they might have about them. If you find that some students are so puzzled by a photograph that using it as a writing prompt would be counterproductive, then select an alternative photo for students to describe." (David Campos and Kathleen Fad, Tools for Teaching Writing: Strategies and Interventions for Diverse Learners in Grades 3-8 . ASCD, 2014)

Sources of Writing Prompts

"On occasions I invite participants in my [writing] group to open the dictionary to a word, any word, and offer it to the next person as her prompt, and so on, around the room with each writer receiving a different word to write from. And I never read anything without a notebook by my side or sticky notes within reach. You never know when the perfect prompt will appear. . . . "The real world can also be a source for writing prompts. I jot down phrases I hear during the day (a writer always eavesdrops), or something I've seen scrawled on a building ('This Is the Last Time'), or notes from a menu at lunch (juice from the ripest berries). . . . Even directions on a cereal box have served as a writing prompt for my drop-in group ('Slide finger under the flap and loosen gently'). Faulkner said there's a bit of the scavenger in every writer. This is what we do when we're collecting inspiration." (Judy Reeves, Writing Alone, Writing Together: A Guide for Writers and Writing Groups . New World Library, 2002)

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Putting the Pieces Together: What Are Writing Prompts?

What are writing prompts.

Why Are Prompts Used in WRIT?

Learning to write well takes time and practice. Becoming a better writer, whether for academic or professional purposes, can only begin if you actively engage with other writers, and, most importantly, other viewpoints. Responding to another writer involves not only understanding  the argument or position that they make, but also determining whether you agree, disagree, or partially agree with their position. Your goal as a developing writer, then, is to articulate your view clearly and concisely on an issue, to support it with solid reasons, and to respond to potential arguments other readers may raise about your own argument.

How Are Prompts Used in WRIT?

In WRIT, weekly prompts are used to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the writing process.  Through guided writing practice, your instructor will use timely and topical writing scenarios so that you can apply the various aspects of writing competency in an incremental way each week.  Sure, writing weekly can seem daunting for some or repetitive for others. Yet, it is important to remember that learning any new skill involves a level of repetition.

Learning to write is an iterative process, which means you will get better the more often you write. You know what they say: practice makes perfect – and this is especially true when learning to write. Using prompts regularly as part of our writing curriculum can boost the chances that you will not only improve as a writer but also feel connected to the writing process itself.

Understanding Writing Prompts

A strong prompt response contains several components, components which must all work together to produce a finished product with which other readers can engage. As an emerging writer, we hope you will develop a number of skills to ensure you are understood. These skills include the ability to:

• create a clear thesis (or main argument)
• develop a logical organizational structure
• use effective and formal language
• vary your sentence structures
• write cleanly without grammatical error to express yourself clearly and concisely

While learning to write effectively depends on your ability to master many of these skills,  one skill can be taught quickly: how to understand a writing prompt.  In fact, this should be the first skill you focus on as a developing writer.  Why? Because if you are unable to understand a piece of writing, then responding to it will be very difficult. Put another way: to make an argument about something, you’ll need to make sure you fully understand the arguments made by another writer– in our case the writer of the prompt . This skill requires more that simple reading comprehension.  More often than not,  strong students receive a weak writing grade because they misunderstood the prompt. In order to respond successfully , you must learn to analyze the prompt before responding to it.

Questions to Ask

The first phase of composing a strong piece of writing occurs in the pre-writing phase, and in WRIT you’ll practice and learn how to  plan your writing responses. Unlike a formal research essay assignment–where you’ll often have weeks to research, plan, and compose a polished final essay–in WRIT,  your responses will be shorter and designed to be completed within a set period of time. The ability to respond in writing quickly is a core skill you’ll practice in WRIT; that skill is called time-on task writing. While, the pre-writing phase will be shorter, you should still learn to ask a few key questions about the prompt to help narrow down your overall writing goal.

When reading a writing prompt, the following are helpful questions to ask and answer:

• What is the topic of the prompt?
• What is the main argument (thesis) the author makes?
• What is the purpose of the prompt? Why does the author want to convince you of her argumentative position?
• What kind of details or supporting points does the author provide?
• Do I agree or disagree with the author’s points? Why or why not?
• Can I provide reasons to oppose the author’s argument?
• Do I understand WHY I support or oppose the author’s argument?

By asking and answering these questions, you can jump-start your essay outline and formulate your own thesis. A good way to begin is to write a one-sentence response to each question. Whether you practice this skill in class or not, there are a number of ways that you can do so everyday. You can:

• Read an opinion editorial on a news site
• Watch a film documentary
• Watch a television interview
• Listen to a documentary podcast
• Track a social media hashtag

Most of the media with which we engage on a daily basis comes with thesis statements, points of view, arguments both well supported and not-so-well supported: the more you bring critical thought–by applying the core questions from above–to these spaces, the more you’ll develop into a critical thinker who is ready to become a critical writer.

Putting the Pieces Together Copyright © 2020 by Andrew Stracuzzi and André Cormier is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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What is a Prompt in Writing?

Written by Haley Boyce

Motive. That’s the reason we do anything. Usually, there’s some sort of attached incentive – drinking coffee because it’s six in the morning and you’re not your best self until you’re about halfway through that first cup, going on a run for a healthier heart, enrolling in a creative writing program to network and get that first chapter of your novel going. These are things you do because you were compelled in some way. You were prompted to do it. 

A prompt in writing is what motivates or compels you to write. It also tells you what to write about. It can come from a writing instructor, a friend in a writing group, or it could be ready-made prompt you found online or even wrote yourself. It doesn’t matter where it comes from, what matters is that you understand it and respond to it appropriately. 

What is a Writing Prompt?

Writing prompts are instructions for what to write about. 

Sometimes they include how long your writing should be, sometimes they specify which writing style ( APA , MLA, AP, Chicago), and sometimes they can be either very specific about what should be included or terribly vague. 

Different Types of Writing Prompts Draw Out Information and Perspectives for Different Applications

The kind of writing prompt you receive depends largely on why you’re receiving one in the first place. Let’s take a look at a few different scenarios and the types of prompts you might find in each one. 

Literary Analysis Prompts

• Literary analysis is pretty much what it sounds like - analyzing something in literature. You will be assigned a work of literature to read, then you will be instructed to write an essay with your response to the prompt to include your observations, connections, and quotes from the story to support your argument. You’ll see this type of prompt in any prerequisite English class, and if you’re majoring in English or creative writing, you’ll spend so much time responding to literary analysis prompts that you’ll wind up missing them like an old friend when you graduate.
• Literary analysis prompts will usually ask you to discuss theme, character, a particular element of style exhibited by the author, or an element of plot and its impact on the story overall.

You’ve Been Responding to Literary Analysis Prompts Ever Since Book Reports in Your Middle School Language Arts Class

[For much of the novel, the Greasers are seen as hoodlums by the people in their town. This view changes toward the end of the novel when they are proclaimed heroes after saving the children from the burning church. However, they would not have been at the church at all if they hadn’t killed Bob and run away.

What do you think? Are the Greasers heroes or hoods?]

To respond to this prompt, a writer should choose one side of the argument (heroes or hoods), then include quotes from the story and explain why they prove their point. 

Creative Nonfiction Prompts

• While in a creative writing program, you might have the opportunity to write a piece of creative nonfiction. Prompts in this type of setting will ask you to tell a story about something that actually happened – oftentimes something that you experienced firsthand – but with a twist.
• You could be asked to write something like this: Tell the story about something dramatic that recently happened to you, but from the perspective of someone who witnessed it. Here, the writer is being asked to make themselves somewhat vulnerable by sharing what could be a rather personal story. They are then prompted to get creative with the situation by seeing it through the eyes of a person who may have seen the episode differently. Responding to a creative nonfiction prompt will not require quotes or explanations to prove a point. The prompt is answered by telling a true story in a creative way.

Nonfiction Prompts

• Nonfiction prompts will be found in scenarios where a scientist has conducted research and must write very precisely about the observations, hypothesis, research, and the outcome. In cases such as this, a scientist will be prompted to write based on a study they have conducted because of possible cause and effect. These are the types of prompts you would come across in science-based classes at a college or university.
• In situations where a nonfiction scientific paper is being written, strict APA style guidelines should be followed.
• Journalism is another form of nonfiction in which a prompt is often based on a journalist's assigned beat. Prompts will come from news and events that are best suited to their publication.

Would You Rather . . .

These prompts are most likely not something you’d find as a writing assignment in a college or university creative writing program, but they are definitely a clever tool to get you to think beyond the typical writing styles, which can start to feel a little stale after a while. 

Other times, you might find that a deeper approach to an either/or scenario is the perfect writing prompt for your creative mind. Would you rather time travel to the past to meet your great-great-great grandparents or time travel to the future to meet your great-great-great grandchildren? … Would you rather be known for being someone who stopped a war or started one? … Would you rather know what everyone thought about you or not care what anyone thought about you at all?

You might have a knee-jerk reaction to each of these prompts, knowing what your initial answer might be. But when you step back to consider the pros and cons of each side, there are strong reasons to choose either one. Each of these “would you rather” writing prompts sparks debate, eliciting careful reflection and explanation. The creativity and impact for something that seems so simple on the surface has the power to inspire a complex thought process, and therefore, meaningful writing.  

How to Start a Writing Prompt

If you learn only two things from this section, let it be that smart people ask questions (that’s how they got so smart. And you’re smart, so go ask for help), and that the best way to start responding to a writing prompt is to first understand how the prompt is put together.

A writing prompt usually has two main parts.

When reading a prompt, look for:

• The writing situation: In a writing situation, the prompt will present the general topic students are being asked to write about.
• Directions: Look for expectations of the task you are being asked to meet. This might include what type of essay you’re supposed to write (expository, narrative, persuasive, etc.), format, evidence from the text, length/word count, etc. Elements to include in the essay will vary depending on the instructor and course, but they will be included in the prompt regardless of subject.

You’ve identified the writing situation and directions. So now what? It’s sometimes (most times) helpful to make a little list of the prompt’s basic directions. Jot them down as bullet points on a sticky note and keep it on your computer monitor while doing your research and organizing your evidence or notes. Like this:

• Literary analysis essay
• Theme in Little Women

Figuring out the prompt can sometimes be half the battle. Once you understand what’s being asked of you, you’re bound to have some sort of answer to use as a jumping off point. Take your time deciding the best argument for your paper by choosing an answer you not only care about the most, but also the one that has an abundance of evidence to support your claim.

Prompts in writing are meant to evoke a response from the writer that is passionate and believable. The writing process doesn’t always feel like a party but knowing how to read a writing prompt definitely makes it more enjoyable.

Understanding writing prompts

Contributor: Aaron Smale

For many college papers, a prompt will ask questions related to readings and class discussion, asking you to demonstrate analysis and discussion of the topic. Decoding what a prompt is asking can sometimes be overwhelming. The sooner you understand a prompt, the sooner you can start writing. Here are some useful tips to understand writing prompts:

As soon as you receive the prompt, read through it twice:

• Though many prompts are complex to encourage well-reasoned responses, they can be confusing/inaccessible if read only once before drafting. Reading the prompt as soon as possible may help you identify how long a paper should be, how much information you should gather, and can reveal concepts you need to understand before approaching the assignment.

Once you have read the prompt, try to share out what you think the prompt means to a friend, family member, or another student:

• This helps to “check” if your understanding of the prompt matches that of other people outside of the class and may help to identify what you still need to know.

Key words can identify the type of assignment that the prompt is calling for :

• Most prompts signal if the paper is expected to be a compare-and-contrast paper, rhetorical analysis, synthesis paper, etc. Keywords may include terms such as compare, synthesize, develop, explore, etc.

Come back to the prompt and highlight key characteristics, terms, and phrases relevant to the topic/assignment and compare it to course notes/assignments:

• When reviewing the prompt, highlight terms or phrases that have come up frequently in discussion or are significant in the course. You may also choose to highlight terms in the prompt that you need to study more. Sometimes a prompt asks you to recall resources or texts from an earlier point in the course, so a review of key sources, topics, course notes or related assignments can help you to write an effective paper. Additionally, this reveals key scenes or text sections identified within the prompt.

Look for language in the prompt that indicates who the target audience is:

• Even though your audience will often include your professor and peers, some prompts for research papers and essays will ask you to address other target audiences. For example, a paper that discusses a new method of patient support may cite a hospital board of directors as a potential audience. By identifying your target audience, you can establish context necessary for your audience to engage with your paper.

Prepare questions for discussion to ask your TA or professor regarding parts of the prompt that are unclear:

• Once you have gone through the prompt itself, make a list of questions to discuss with your professor or TA so you can get more clarity on the assignment.

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How to Write an Effective Essay Prompt

How to Dissect an Essay Writing Prompt

Writing an effective essay prompt requires equal shares of art and science. The prompt must allow room for creative interpretation and analysis. However, the prompt must also provide organization and boundaries for the writers’ responses. Finally, the prompt should provide ample room for post-writing criticism to help students improve their writing.

Writing Prompt Guidelines

1. The prompt should be brief. Wordiness only serves to confuse the writer.

2. The prompt should be focused. A prompt that rambles in an attempt to explain or motivate is counter-productive.

3. The prompt should require only the prior knowledge that has been emphasized in class instruction. Isolate the variables of personal experience to best assess the outcomes of instruction.

4. The prompt should be age appropriate. Know the developmental capabilities and interests of your students and translate these into the writing prompt.

5. The prompt should avoid issues which students or parents would find objectionable. Save the PG-13 issues for older students. Don’t let the subject interfere with the writing task.

6. The prompt should not be so personal that the privacy of the writer is jeopardized. A writing prompt should not inhibit the writer from answering honestly and comfortably.

7. The prompt should not embarrass the gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic background of the writer. Stay sensitive to these variables within your classroom. Words have different meanings according to one’s perspective.

8. The prompt should allow students of varying abilities to respond effectively. An ideal prompt allows all students to experience success in their writing.

9. The prompt should be interesting enough to motivate the writer. A prompt that does not provoke thought will reap a thoughtless response.

10. The prompt should allow “room to breathe” for divergent thinkers. Expect the unexpected in student responses, and design prompts to allow for a variety of responses.

11. The prompt should enable the writer to respond with a thesis that states the purpose of the writing and/or the author’s point of view (claim or argument). If you can’t turn the writing prompt into a thesis statement without effort, your students will never accomplish this task.

12. The prompt should not artificially force the writer into a certain thesis. A one-sided prompt that demands a certain thesis will not produce original thought.

13. The prompt can provide a writing situation to set the writing directions in context. However, the writing situation should not overwhelm or confuse the writing instructions.

14. The prompt should have clear writing instructions. Writers are the best judges as to whether the prompt has clear instructions. Avoid vocabulary and terms that will confuse the students. Don’t use writing direction words, such as “analyze”, if your students do not understand them.

15. The prompt should be one that will afford your writers plenty of evidence with which to prove or elaborate upon their topic sentences. Picking narrow or obscure writing subjects will not allow your writers to weigh easily accessible evidence. They will also be tempted to plagiarize or invent when little evidence is available.

16. The prompt should be able to be boiled down into a question to be answered. That answer will be the thesis statement.

Writing directions words for essays designed to inform the reader…

1. Describe means to show the characteristics of the subject to the reader through visual details.

2. Explain means to make something clear or easy to understand.

3. Discuss means to talk about all sides of the subject.

4. Compare means to show how things are the same, and contrast means to show how things are different. If the writing prompt only mentions compare, you must still do both tasks.

Writing directions words for essays designed to convince the reader…

5. Analyze means to break apart the subject and explain each part.

6. Persuade means to convince the reader of your argument or claim.

7. Justify means to give reasons, based upon established rules, to support your arguments.

8. Evaluate means to make a judgment about the good and bad points of the subject.

TEACHING ESSAYS BUNDLE

The author’s  TEACHING ESSAYS BUNDLE   includes the three printable and digital  resources students need to master  the  CCSS W.1 argumentative and W.2 informational/explanatory essays. Each  no-prep  resource allows students to work at their own paces via mastery learning. How to Teach Essays  includes 42 skill-based essay strategy worksheets (fillable PDFs and 62 Google slides), beginning with simple 3-word paragraphs and proceeding step-by-step to complex multi-paragraph essays. One skill builds upon another. The Essay Skills Worksheets include 97 worksheets (printables and 97 Google slides) to help teachers differentiate writing instruction with both remedial and advanced writing skills. The  Eight Writing Process Essays  (printables and 170 Google slides) each feature an on-demand diagnostic essay assessment, writing prompt with connected reading, brainstorming, graphic organizer, response, revision, and editing activities. Plus, each essay includes a detailed analytical (not holistic) rubric for assessment-based learning.

Literacy Centers , Study Skills , Writing essay , essay strategies , Mark Pennington , Teaching Essay Strategies , teaching writing , writing style

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Developing writing prompts.

A writing prompt introduces and focuses the writing topic. The purposes of a writing prompt are to encourage the student’s interest in a topic and encourage them to write about it in a thoughtful and creative way. While an effective prompt introduces and limits the writing topic, it should also provide clear instructions about the writing task.

An effective writing prompt includes two basic components;

• A situation: The situation presents the general topic students are to write about. It is intended to spark the students interest and be consistent with their experience; and
• Directions: The directions, describing the task students must complete, should be stated in a way that encourages students to share their knowledge and experience or inspires their thought and creativity.

When developing a writing prompt, the instructor should consider:

• Essay type : The type of essay can influence the type and content of the prompt. When writing a prompt, first determine which type of essay the students will be writing. Common essay types include: argument, descriptive, expository (also known as evaluative, reflective, or analytic), narrative, opinion, and persuasive.
• Prompt construction: One useful approach to prompt writing is to break it into three parts. The first part introduces the topic to the students; the second part encourages students to think about the topic, possibly with a pre-writing activity in which students brainstorm for ideas; the final part describes the writing task
• Brevity: Writing prompt should be short and focused to avoid confusing students, but the instructor must ensure they provide sufficient information in order for students to clearly understand the assigned writing task.
• Repetition: The parts of the prompt may be repetitive. Using parallel wording helps students remain focused on the specific writing task.
• Bias and sensitivity: Topics should be inclusive of and equitable to all of your students. Prompts should be written in a manner that all students will have knowledge and experience to understand them regardless of cultural and other factors. Prompts should avoid cultural, ethnic, gender, or other stereotyping.

Writing prompt construction:

• Part 1. Introduce the topic or writing situation with a statement or generalization to orient the student to the topic.
• Part 2. Encourage students to brainstorm and to make a personal connection with the topic. The instructor might include specific ideas promote ideas.
• Part 3. Describe the writing task, purpose, and audience. The instructor should provide sufficient information for the students to fully understand their task.

Before writing your prompt, be sure to determine the purpose of the assignment, how the assignment aligns with the learning objectives, and the criteria evaluate the writing, and, finally, which type of prompt will achieve those goals best. Writing prompts can be:

• Descriptive: Asks students to create or describe an image or experience;
• Narrative: Describes a real or fictitious scenario and invites students to tell a story about it;
• Expository: Asks students to provide information about a topic. or
• Persuasive:. Presents an opinion or viewpoint, requiring students to take a stance and defend it.

Descriptive Prompts

Descriptive prompts often contain cue terms, such as “describe in detail”, “describe how something looked/felt/smelled/tasted”, to help the reader to experience the same thing. This is in contrast to an expository prompt which would ask the student explain or tell “why”. Example descriptive prompt

Many people have a favorite childhood toy. Sometimes these favorite childhood toys are not even expensive but were giving to you by someone special or as a reward.. Think about your favorite toy. It could be a stuffed animal or doll. It could even be the toy you made out of an everyday object, such as a blanket. Think about this favorite childhood toy, memories created with this toy, what it looked like, how it felt to have it with you. Write an essay that will be posted in your e-portfolio in which you describe your favorite childhood toy. Make sure you provide enough details so your readers can see it and feel what it is like to be there.

Narrative Prompts

Narrative writing recounts a personal or fictional experience or tells a story based on real or imagined events. Narrative writing is often characterized by insight, creativity, drama, suspense, humor, and/or fantasy. Narrative prompts use cue terms such as “tell about…”, “tell what happened”, or “write a story.” Similar to descriptive prompts, narrative prompts should avoid asking the students to explain “why.”

Example Narrative Prompt

Vacations can create some wonderful and not-so-wonderful memories. Sometimes vacations turn out to be funny, strange, scary, or weird. Think about a vacation with your family or friends that either became a favorite memory because it was the best, strangest, funniest, or worst vacation. Think about what you did, what else was happening at the time, where you were, who was involved, and the time of day or year it happened.

Write a story about the best, strangest, funniest, or worst vacation. Make sure you include enough details so the instructor can understand and follow your story.

Expository Prompts

Expository writing informs, clarifies, explains, defines, and/or instructs. Problem and solution, cause and effect, and how-to essays are subtypes of expository writing. Expository writing is guided by a purpose and with a specific audience in mind, therefore the voice and essay organization must align with the subject and audience. Expository prompts use the cue words: why, how, what, and explain.

Example Expository Prompt

Some animals have evolved to live and thrive under extreme climate conditions or to eat a very specific diet. Think about an animal that has evolved to live under extreme climate conditions or to eat a very specific diet. Think about where this animal lives, what the climate conditions are like, the types of food it eats, and how it gets its food. Think about the possible advantage and disadvantages for the animal of living in this habitat or eating this diet. Write an essay for your e-portfolio that identifies the animal and its unique habitat or diet and explains (with specific details to support your explanation) why it is an advantage for the animal to have evolved this way.

Persuasive Prompts

Persuasive writing is intended to convince the reader that a point of view is valid or to take a specific action. Persuasive writing should address the strengths and weakness of both sides of an issue but ultimately support one perspective. Persuasive prompts use the cue words “convince”, “persuade”, and “why,” rather than using terms like “how.”

Example Persuasive Prompt

Some parents are concerned about administering vaccines to their infants and children because they believe vaccines can lead to autism. Your sister who is currently pregnant is considering not vaccinating her child. Think about whether you agree or disagree with her plan to not vaccinate her child. Think about the advantages and disadvantages of vaccinating a child and what the scientific literature says. Write a letter to your pregnant sister in which you state your opinion on the decision to not vaccinate. Include enough specific details to support your opinion and to convince your sister that your position on the issue is correct.

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Everyone knows how overwhelming it can be to look at a blank screen or piece of paper when expected to write something. Imagine never being given any instruction on how to compose a piece of academic writing. That would be difficult! Although writing prompts might feel burdensome, they actually offer guidance to the writer. There are just a few strategies to understanding any prompt you're given so you can write the most effective essay possible in any circumstance.

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An Essay Prompt: Definition & Meaning

A writing prompt is an introduction to a topic as well as instruction on how to write about it. Writing prompts, often used for essay assignments, are meant to direct the writing and encourage interest in the topic of discussion.

An essay prompt could be anything meant to make you engage with the subject at hand; it could be a question, a statement , or even a picture or song. In addition to allowing you to interact with an academic topic, essay prompts are also crafted to challenge your writing skills.

A writing prompt will often explain what style or structure you should use in your essay (if not contained in the prompt itself, you should be informed elsewhere in the assignment). This all depends on what the writing prompt is asking you to do.

Prompt Writing Examples

Writing prompts can vary in style and length, and there are several different types, each focusing on something else.

Prompts can also vary by how much information they give you. Sometimes, a writing prompt will provide the writer with a scenario and ask them to defend their position on the topic, or give them a short reading assignment and ask them to respond. Other times, the prompt is very short and to the point.

It’s ultimately up to the writer to respond accordingly, but it’s helpful to understand what precisely you are supposed to do.

Below are the different types of essay prompts you might encounter, as well as an example of each. Some examples are lengthy and detailed, while others are simple questions; it is important to be prepared for either case.

Think about a prompt from your previous English assignments; what kind of essay prompt do you think it was? How did the prompt inform your writing?

Descriptive Writing Prompt

A descriptive writing prompt aims to get the writer to describe something specific.

How to respond: The goal here is to use vivid language, bringing the reader into the description so they almost feel like they are experiencing it for themselves.

Example prompt: Read the sample about leisure from George Eliot’s Adam Bede (1859). Compose a well-written essay describing her two views of leisure and discuss stylistic devices she uses to convey those views.

Narrative Writing Prompt

Narrative writing tells a story. A narrative essay prompt will ask you to walk the reader through an experience or scene using creative, insightful language.

A narrative essay prompt could easily be confused with descriptive. Still, the difference is that you’re responsible for explaining the series of events, not just describing one particular thing about the event. You may use elements of descriptive writing for a narrative essay .

How to respond: Be prepared to tell a story. It might be based on real-life experiences or entirely fictional— that is up to you. You’ll organize your response according to the series of events in the story.

Example prompt: Write a story about your favorite school memory. Include details such as who was there, where it was, what happened, and how it ended.

Expository Writing Prompt

Expository is a synonym for explanatory, so you will be asked to explain something in detail in this type of prompt. In an expository essay , you’ll need to support the information you’re sharing with facts.

How to respond: Depending on the topic, you should generate a hypothesis and use evidence to support it. Present a coherent argument to the reader.

Example prompt: On April 9, 1964, Claudia Johnson, First Lady of the United States, gave the following speech at the first-anniversary luncheon of the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to the works of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who passed away in 1962. Read the passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices First Lady Johnson makes in order to honor Eleanor Roosevelt.

In your response, you should do the following:

Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer’s rhetorical choices.

Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.

Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.

Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.

Notice how this sample prompt is much more detailed than the previous examples. If you receive a prompt like this, pay attention to every specific detail and be sure you respond to each piece of instruction; otherwise, you risk not entirely answering the assignment.

Persuasive Writing Prompt

A writing prompt that asks for a persuasive response is trying to get the writer to convince the audience of something. In persuasive writing, you’ll need to take a stance or side of an argument and persuade the reader to agree with your position.

How to respond: After considering the topic of the prompt, choose an argument that you can defend with logic and evidence (if possible) and try to convince the reader of your position.

Example prompt: Winston Churchill said, “There is nothing wrong in change, if it is in the right direction. To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to change often.”

- Winston S. Churchill, 23 June 1925, House of Commons

Although Winston Churchill may have made this statement somewhat jokingly, one may easily find support for both change “in the right direction” and change that is destructive. From personal experience or your studies, develop a position regarding one change that is or was viewed differently by different generations.

Steps to Understanding the Prompt

When presented with a writing prompt, you can take a few steps to make sure you fully understand the assignment and can produce the most effective essay or piece of writing. Regardless of the length of the prompt, what type it is, or how detailed it is, you can use this process to get a firm grasp on the meaning of the prompt and what to write in response.

1. Read and Re-Read the Prompt

Step one may feel like an obvious one, but the importance of reading the prompt well cannot be overstated. It’s also important to not just read it but to read it without focusing on what your response will be just yet. Your agenda in this step is to simply take in the information. Feel free to take notes or underline keywords if you're reading new information (and perhaps even if you're already familiar with it).

Consider reading the prompt several times for a deeper understanding (if time allows).

2. Read the Prompt Critically

Next, take another pass at the prompt, but this time read with a more critical eye. Look for keywords or phrases, and pay close attention to action words—the prompt is ultimately asking you to do something.

Start to look for details and information that you can use in your response. Take notes, circle, or underline anything you might use. This will save you time as you begin writing.

3. Summarize the Prompt in a Sentence

The purpose of step three is twofold: to summarize the prompt by distilling it down to its most important parts (i.e. the part that includes your assignment) and to put it in your own words. Pay attention to keywords and phrases used in the prompt, and be sure to include them in your summary.

Summarizing the prompt will allow you to fully digest the information in the prompt and further cement your understanding by reproducing it.

4. Ask Yourself Questions About the Prompt

It’s time to start thinking about the purpose of the assignment. You can ask yourself these questions to dig into what exactly you need to do next:

Understanding the Prompt: Who Is the Audience for the Essay?

Before you begin to write, you always need to identify your audience. Why? Because your audience should influence how you approach responding to the prompt. In an academic essay, you should always assume your audience is your teacher or whoever has written the essay prompt. Remember to write your essay in a way so that anyone can understand your response.

Understanding the Prompt: What Form of Writing Does it Require?

Do you need to construct an argument or narrate an event? Scan the prompt for clues about what type of response you should write. Sometimes a prompt will tell you precisely what type of essay to write, and other times you are given the freedom to respond as you see fit.

What Is the Purpose of the Prompt?

Look for action words in the prompt such as ‘describe’ or ‘explain’, as these give you a major clue about the purpose of the prompt. These words tell you what to do.

Here are a few keywords and phrases commonly used in writing prompts and their meanings:

Compare - look for similarities between two things (texts, images, etc.).

Contrast - look for differences between two things.

Define - explain what something means and give an official definition .

Illustrate - highlight some detail about the topic of discussion.

To figure out what a prompt is asking you to do, look for action verbs that will help direct the purpose of your response. In addition to those commonly used keywords, you should also pay attention to words that indicate a task or expectation for you, the writer. Here are a few examples:

• Incorporate

Be sure you accomplish the action requested in the prompt, using examples and details as necessary.

If you don’t find words like this, think through a possible response and try to identify what type of writing would answer the question posed in the prompt.

Understanding the Prompt: What Information Do I Need to Complete the Task?

Are there any graphs or statistics in the prompt that you might need to reference in your essay? Circle this information so you can easily find it later.

If this prompt is not part of an exam, you may want to research the topic to round out your answer with details and accurate information.

Understanding the Prompt: What Kind of Details or Arguments Does it Suggest?

Look for what information you’re supposed to include in your response. These are specific details the prompt asks you to consider, such as the findings of a study or a fictional character’s personality traits.

Is it possible that these details are enough to support your thesis statement? Could each detail be enough for an entire paragraph in a basic, five-paragraph structured essay? Answering these questions might be a big help as you begin to plan your essay.

I Understand the Prompt: Now What?

Now that you have come to thoroughly understand the prompt and what it is asking you to do, the next step is to plan an outline.

Even if you are taking an exam and have limited time, you should still devote a few minutes to drafting an outline. An outline is likely to save you time in the long run as it gives your writing direction, and it can keep you from meandering without ever proving your point.

Armed with a firm understanding of the prompt and an outline of how you intend to answer the prompt’s ultimate question, you can now begin to write your amazing essay!

Understanding the Prompt - Key takeaways

• A writing prompt is an introduction to a topic as well as instruction on how to write about it.
• A prompt is anything meant to engage you with a particular topic and is also meant to challenge your writing skills.
• Prompts can be descriptive, narrative, expository, or persuasive (and your writing should reflect the style of the prompt).
• Read (and re-read the prompt)
• Read the prompt critically

Summarize the prompt in a sentence

• Who is the audience?
• What form of writing does this require?
• What is the purpose of the prompt?
• What information do I need to complete the task?
• What kind of details or argument does it suggest?

Frequently Asked Questions about Understanding the Prompt

--> what does understanding the prompt mean.

Understanding the prompt means having a firm grasp on the topic and how the prompt has asked the writer to engage with or respond to it.

--> What is an essay prompt?

An essay prompt is an  introduction to a topic as well as  instruction on how to write about it.

--> What is a prompt example?

A prompt example would be: Take a position on the value of attempting difficult tasks, particularly when there is the guarantee that you will never achieve perfection. Support your position with personal experiences, observations, readings, and history.

--> What does prompt mean in writing?

A prompt is anything that encourages you to think about your relation to a topic and engage with it in the form of writing.

--> How do I write a prompt response?

Write a prompt response by first answering the following questions: 

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

True or false, a prompt could be a picture.

What type of writing prompt would require a response that tells a story?

What type of writing prompt would require a response that formulates a hypothesis and uses evidence to support it?

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What is the definition of a prompt?

A writing prompt is an introduction to a topic as well as instruction on how to write about it. 

What should you do after reading the prompt several times for information and with a critical eye?

Which of the following it NOT a question to ask yourself about the prompt?

Is there anything in this prompt I can ignore?

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Effective Writing Assignments

Six parts of an effective prompt.

One of the most common challenges in designing a prompt is determining how much information to include. We recommend that you  limit the information provided on the prompt to the unique requirements for this assignment  and that you provide students with writing guides distinct from the prompt that outline your expectations for different types of assignments and different disciplines.

Of course, the following is just one model for arranging a prompt. We encourage you to adapt it as you see fit to best provide your students with the guidance that will help them produce the kinds of papers you want to read.

1. Articulation of purpose

This section explains the significance of the assignment itself by explaining  what skills students will display in their writing and why they are important.

This section may also identify the  audience  of the assignment. If the assignment has real-world applications (for example, if students are asked to construct a business memo), this section may present students with a scenario that their writing will address.

De Paul Teaching Commons identifies nine of the most common purposes for writing, including encouraging students to engage course material, to develop scholarly skills, and to bridge academic and real world understanding. On their site, they include a helpful  chart  that breaks each of these purposes into smaller goals and suggests which types of writing assignments engage each.

Below is a sample articulation of purpose. You can find the full prompt from which this example is drawn  here .

2. Summary of assignment

Essentially, this is the “thesis statement” of the prompt. Assignment summaries tend to work best when limited to a few sentences in which you provide students with the  genre of the assignment, the most important components of the assignment, and the audience for their paper.

You can find the full prompt from which this example is drawn here .

3. Logistics

This section provides students with the basic information about your requirements,  including the specific length, the due date, the method of submission, formatting requirements, and citation style.

You can find the full prompt from which this example is drawn  here .

4. Key components of the paper or important sections

This is a where you might provide  a brief synopsis of the genre ,  or type of assignment,in which students are writing and  address the types and number of sources they should use . You might also use this space to refer students to a writing guide.

5. Framing questions

This section is designed to  provide students with further guidance . Depending on the type of assignment, you might include either an overview of important sections or framing questions or both. The length of this section will depend on the degree to which you expect students to develop their own framing questions.

6. Evaluation criteria

This section could refer back to your  rubric , but it’s also a good idea to include those general categories on your prompt as well. Precise language is particularly helpful in this section. For examples of alternatives to criteria like “assignment is well-written,” you may want to check out our examples of precise language .

Bonus: References to Resources, Tips for Approaching the Project, Common Missteps & Models

References to resources.

As its name suggests, this section directs students to resources that will help them with their assignment. You might include links to websites or information about library resources available to them, suggestions for visiting the DEWC or departmental tutors, or other useful information.

Tips for Approaching the Project

Perhaps you want students to write their papers in a particular order or take notes in a certain way. By separating that information from the rest of the prompt, you can offer them with an easy way to reference your suggestions.

Common Errors

This can be a particularly helpful section to include – if students in your Business Writing class often lapse into poetic language or students in your Art History class tend to want to make value judgments about the works they’re analyzing, you can warn them off here.

Reproductions

We recommend providing models for writing  in your class throughout the semester. Providing a model of an exemplary paper for students when you distribute the prompt can go a long way toward producing the kind of papers you want to be grading.

Better Assignments.  Writing Center. Yale College. 2014. Web. 1 June 2014. 

Boye, Allison.  How Do I Create Meaningful and Effective Assignments?  Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center. Texas Tech University. 2014. 1 June 2014.

Brewster, Glen et al.  Formal Biology Lab Reports.  Writer’s Guide. Westfield State College. Web. 1 June 2014. 

Creating Effective Assignments.  Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. University of New Hampshire. 2004. Web. 1 June 2014.

Gardner, Traci.  Ten Tips for Designing Writing Assignments.  Pedablogical. 2001. Web. 1 June 2014.

Gately, Maeve.  Writing an Art History Paper.  Writing Resources. Hamilton College Writing Center. 2014. Web. 1 June 2014.

Guidelines for Analysis of Art .  Department of Art. University of Arkansas at Little Rock. n.d. Web. 1 June 2014.

Jehn, Tom, and Jane Rosenweig.  Writing in the Disciplines: Advice and Models: Supplement to accompany Diana Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference, Sixth Edition.  Boston: Bedford St. Martin’s. 2007.

Matching Learning Goals to Assignment Types.  De Paul Teaching Commons. DePaul University. n.d. Web. 1 June 2014.

Pop, Andrei.  How to Do Things with Pictures: A Guide for Writing in Art History. Disciplinary Writing Guides. Harvard Writing Project. 2008. Web. 1 June 2014.

Writing Assignments . Center for Teaching and Learning. Hobart and William Smith Colleges. 2014. Web. 1 June 2014.

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What is a Prompt in Writing an Essay

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Essay prompts are typically a trigger for ideas regarding a topic or issue. It is something professors give students to get them to respond by writing an essay paper.

They are usually made up of 1 to 3 sentences giving some background on the topic, followed by a question. But the truth is that there are no rules or formats to a writing prompt, and it can be made up of anything.

It can be a single word or even an image, and it is all up to the student’s interpretation of what they should write about. However, students are still expected to give well-formulated opinions supported by logical reasoning and facts from texts.

After all, the reason behind a college-level essay prompt is to test a student’s writing, reasoning, and critical thinking skills. That’s why to get an excellent score for your essay; you need to start by understanding the essay prompt.

How Do you Analyze a Writing Prompt

While great writing skills depend on time and practice to develop, how to analyze your writing prompt is an easy skill you can learn by the end of this guide.

All too often, good students receive a poor writing grades because they misunderstood the task and cannot successfully respond to the essay prompt.

Knowing what to write is not just a matter of comprehension but instead of dissecting the prompt quickly to formulate the answer needed to address the question.

X Questions to Ask Yourself while Reading

1. what is the purpose of the prompt.

Why are you writing? When reading through your prompt, it’s essential to understand your subject and overall goal . Does the prompt want you to take a stand on an issue, or does it require you to compare two concepts?

Only after you’ve identified the purpose of the prompt do you start brainstorming what kind of details or arguments your essay needs and the points that would make a strong paragraph.

2. Highlight important keywords

Sometimes your prompt may have more than one requirement. When reading your prompt, highlight directive words in the statement like analyze, describe, argue, etc.

Each of these keywords has a different meaning and calls for writing different types of essays.

For example, if your prompt asks you to analyze. Then, the idea is to write an analytical essay where you will need to break down the topic into its component parts and discuss each element and its relationship.

In fact, here are some of the most common keywords you should watch out for:

• Argue - Present facts and reasonings that support your opinion;
• Compare - Identify the similarities and differences between two or more ideas;
• Contrast - Show the differences between two or more ideas;
• Criticize - Make judgments and evaluations with analytical support;
• Define - Give meaning to a specific concept or subject (may provide multiple definitions or an explanation of how it differs from others in the same category);
• Describe - Give a detailed account of an event or characteristics of a specific person, place, or item (include sensory details to make it more engaging);
• Discuss - Explain the various aspects of a topic or issue, and come to a conclusion;
• Explain - Show cause and effect relationship by providing relevant details;
• Prove - Show the truth of a statement using logic or experimentation;
• Predict - Tell what you think will happen in the future with supporting evidence.

There are many more, and you can see more directive keywords and their explanations here.

Besides, there are times when the assignment does not explicitly state the task or use these keywords. In such cases, you need to look at the overall prompt to find the intention.

Take this essay prompt, for example:

Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton have differing views on the study of social systems. Discuss.

Here, instead of just explaining the various aspects of Parsons and Merton’s views, the word differing would also suggest the need to compare their two views.

3. Who is the audience of the essay

Who will read your writing? Some prompts will identify a specific audience , like asking you to write an essay for a parenting magazine or pretend you are telling the story to your friend.

When addressing a specific audience, always keep them in mind to inform your writing tone and style. In the scenario where a prompt does not identify an audience, assume that you are writing to your professor.

4. Are there any limits in the prompt

When analyzing your essay prompt, watch out for any limiting words that keep you focused on a particular aspect.

Some essay questions may give you special instructions, like asking you to discuss how the pandemic is affecting people from low socio-economic backgrounds. Follow these restrictions when formulating your arguments and evidence.

In some instances, you may even want to create your own limits. Because let’s say if you were to write an essay on the state of gender equality in Southeast Asia. It may be better to focus on one country, given that the situation can be very different between two countries like Singapore and Indonesia.

How to Answer an Essay Prompt

After you have analyzed your prompt, it’s time to brainstorm and plan for your essay writing.

First, develop a thesis statement to answer the overall question . Your thesis statement is your stance on the topic and should be the central idea of your whole essay.

Next, develop simple topic sentences to other aspects of your essay prompt, like reasons and examples, to make sure you cover all the requirements. Now organize them into an outline, and add facts, elaborations, and evidence to support your opinion to build a more substantial essay.

Once you are done, you can expand your writing and connect each sentence and paragraph with smooth transitions . Make sure you use an engaging hook in your introductory paragraph and summarize your ideas and thesis statement as a conclusion.

A quick tip if you are writing a timed essay --- you can practice writing against time by regularly answering different essay prompts. It will hone your analytical and writing skills while getting you comfortable with completing an essay within the time limit.

Often, essay questions are inspired by current events. So keeping up with mainstream news and happenings will let you know what is going around in the world and give you better ideas to discuss in your essay.

3 Examples of Writing Prompts

To truly help you understand what a prompt is in writing an essay, here’re some quick examples of college essay topics and how you should tackle them:

1. Identity is a set of qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make a person or group. Describe a facet of your identity, background, or story that is essential to who you are.

For this essay, you need to approach it with a combination of expository and narrative writing. While the only directive keyword here is “describe”, the essay prompt also has a statement talking about the concept of identity.

So set forth to explore the meaning of both personal and group identity. Use your personal narrative to investigate the concept of identity and explain clearly how qualities, beliefs, and expressions have shaped an essential part of who you are.

2. Recreational marijuana should be legal in all 50 states.

For this essay prompt, you need to take a stand. Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana nationwide, or do you think it should be up to the state jurisdiction?

Whether you are for or against the cause, you need to build the strongest argument possible to win your readers over. Do some research on the topic and try to understand both sides of the issue. Because while you want to showcase your specific passions and reasonings behind your stance, a good persuasive essay shows why the writer’s opinion is correct and the problem with the opposing view.

3. Describe a problem you’ve solved in the past. It can be a challenging event, an ethical dilemma, or anything of personal importance. Explain its significance to you and what are the steps you took to identify a solution.

For college application essays, the goal is to show admission officers who you are apart from your grades and test score. That’s why your answer to this question should focus on standing out from the crowd .

While choosing your challenging event may be a defining factor, it is never about how big a problem you overcame. Instead, colleges are looking at how the situation has shaped you. So demonstrate introspection and reflection in your college essay ; show the thought process of how you realize the problem and find a solution to solve it.

If there is one takeaway, you should always start by analyzing your writing prompt before you begin writing.

And with that, we hope you have a better understanding of what a prompt is in writing an essay and the proper ways to analyze and answer them.

Next, let’s move on to learning about how to write a good introduction.

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Definition Essay

Definition Essay - Writing Guide, Examples and Tips

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Published on: Oct 9, 2020

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

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Many students struggle with writing definition essays due to a lack of clarity and precision in their explanations.

This obstructs them from effectively conveying the essence of the terms or concepts they are tasked with defining. Consequently, the essays may lack coherence, leaving readers confused and preventing them from grasping the intended meaning.

But don’t worry!

In this guide, we will delve into effective techniques and step-by-step approaches to help students craft an engaging definition essay.

Continue reading to learn the correct formation of a definition essay. 

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What is a Definition Essay?

Just as the name suggests, a definition essay defines and explains a term or a concept. Unlike a narrative essay, the purpose of writing this essay is only to inform the readers.

Writing this essay type can be deceivingly tricky. Some terms, concepts, and objects have concrete definitions when explained. In contrast others are solely based on the writer’s understanding and point of view.

A definition essay requires a writer to use different approaches when discussing a term. These approaches are the following:

• Denotation - It is when you provide a literal or academic definition of the term.
• Connotation - It is when the writer provides an implied meaning or definition of the term.
• Enumeration - For this approach, a list is employed to define a term or a concept.
• Analogy - It is a technique in which something is defined by implementing a comparison.
• Negation - It is when you define a term by stating what it is not.

A single or combination of approaches can be used in the essay. 

Definition Essay Types

There are several types of definition essays that you may be asked to write, depending on the purpose and scope of the assignment. 

In this section, we will discuss some of the most common types of definition essays.

Descriptive Definition Essay 

This type of essay provides a detailed description of a term or concept, emphasizing its key features and characteristics. 

The goal of a descriptive definition essay is to help readers understand the term or concept in a more profound way.

Stipulative Definition Essay 

In a stipulative definition essay, the writer provides a unique definition of a term or concept. This type of essay is often used in academic settings to define a term in a particular field of study. 

The goal of a stipulative definition essay is to provide a precise and clear definition that is specific to the context of the essay.

Analytical Definition Essay 

This compare and contrast essay type involves analyzing a term or concept in-depth. Breaking it down into its component parts, and examining how they relate to each other. 

The goal of an analytical definition essay is to provide a more nuanced and detailed understanding of the term or concept being discussed.

Persuasive Definition Essay 

A persuasive definition essay is an argumentative essay that aims to persuade readers to accept a particular definition of a term or concept.

The writer presents their argument for the definition and uses evidence and examples to support their position.

Explanatory Definition Essay 

An explanatory definition essay is a type of expository essay . It aims to explain a complex term or concept in a way that is easy to understand for the reader. 

The writer breaks down the term or concept into simpler parts and provides examples and analogies to help readers understand it better.

Extended Definition Essay 

An extended definition essay goes beyond the definition of a word or concept and provides a more in-depth analysis and explanation. 

The goal of an extended definition essay is to provide a comprehensive understanding of a term, concept, or idea. This includes its history, origins, and cultural significance. 

How to Write a Definition Essay?

Writing a definition essay is simple if you know the correct procedure. This essay, like all the other formal pieces of documents, requires substantial planning and effective execution.

The following are the steps involved in writing a definition essay effectively:

Instead of choosing a term that has a concrete definition available, choose a word that is complicated . Complex expressions have abstract concepts that require a writer to explore deeper. Moreover, make sure that different people perceive the term selected differently. 

Once you have a word to draft your definition essay for, read the dictionary. These academic definitions are important as you can use them to compare your understanding with the official concept.

Drafting a definition essay is about stating the dictionary meaning and your explanation of the concept. So the writer needs to have some information about the term.

In addition to this, when exploring the term, make sure to check the term’s origin. The history of the word can make you discuss it in a better way.

Coming up with an exciting title for your essay is important. The essay topic will be the first thing that your readers will witness, so it should be catchy.

Creatively draft an essay topic that reflects meaning. In addition to this, the usage of the term in the title should be correctly done. The readers should get an idea of what the essay is about and what to expect from the document.

Now that you have a topic in hand, it is time to gather some relevant information. A definition essay is more than a mere explanation of the term. It represents the writer’s perception of the chosen term and the topic.

So having only personal opinions will not be enough to defend your point. Deeply research and gather information by consulting credible sources.

The gathered information needs to be organized to be understandable. The raw data needs to be arranged to give a structure to the content.

Here's a generic outline for a definition essay:

Are you searching for an in-depth guide on crafting a well-structured definition essay?Check out this definition essay outline blog!

6. Write the First Draft

Drafting each section correctly is a daunting task. Understanding what or what not to include in these sections requires a writer to choose wisely.

The start of your essay matters a lot. If it is on point and attractive, the readers will want to read the text. As the first part of the essay is the introduction , it is considered the first impression of your essay.

To write your definition essay introduction effectively, include the following information:

• Start your essay with a catchy hook statement that is related to the topic and the term chosen.
• State the generally known definition of the term. If the word chosen has multiple interpretations, select the most common one.
• Provide background information precisely. Determine the origin of the term and other relevant information.
• Shed light on the other unconventional concepts and definitions related to the term.
• Decide on the side or stance you want to pick in your essay and develop a thesis statement .

After briefly introducing the topic, fully explain the concept in the body section . Provide all the details and evidence that will support the thesis statement. To draft this section professionally, add the following information:

• A detailed explanation of the history of the term.
• Analysis of the dictionary meaning and usage of the term.
• A comparison and reflection of personal understanding and the researched data on the concept.

Once all the details are shared, give closure to your discussion. The last paragraph of the definition essay is the conclusion . The writer provides insight into the topic as a conclusion.

The concluding paragraphs include the following material:

• Summary of the important points.
• Restated thesis statement.
• A final verdict on the topic.

7. Proofread and Edit

Although the writing process ends with the concluding paragraph, there is an additional step. It is important to proofread the essay once you are done writing. Proofread and revise your document a couple of times to make sure everything is perfect.

Before submitting your assignment, make edits, and fix all mistakes and errors.

If you want to learn more about how to write a definition essay, here is a video guide for you!

Definition Essay Structure 

The structure of a definition essay is similar to that of any other academic essay. It should consist of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

However, the focus of a definition essay is on defining and explaining a particular term or concept. 

In this section, we will discuss the structure of a definition essay in detail.

Introduction 

Get the idea of writing an introduction for a definition essay with this example:

Body Paragraphs

Here is an example of how to craft your definition essay body paragraph:

Types of the Term/Concept 

If applicable, the writer may want to include a section that discusses the different types or categories of the term or concept being defined. 

This section should explain the similarities and differences between the types, using examples and anecdotes to illustrate the points.

Examples of the Term/Concept in Action 

The writer should also include real-life examples of the term or concept being defined in action. 

This will help the reader better understand the term or concept in context and how it is used in everyday life.

Conclusion 

This example will help you writing a conclusion fo you essay:

Definition Essay Examples

It is important to go through some examples and samples before writing an essay. This is to understand the writing process and structure of the assigned task well.

Following are some examples of definition essays to give our students a better idea of the concept. 

Understanding the Definition Essay

Definition Essay Example

Definition Essay About Friendship

Definition Essay About Love

Family Definition Essay

Success Definition Essay

Beauty Definition Essay

Definition Essay Topics

Selecting the right topic is challenging for other essay types. However, picking a suitable theme for a definition essay is equally tricky yet important. Pick an interesting subject to ensure maximum readership.

If you are facing writer’s block, here is a list of some great definition essay topics for your help. Choose from the list below and draft a compelling essay.

• Authenticity
• Sustainability
• Mindfulness

Here are some more extended definition essay topics:

• Social media addiction
• Ethical implications of gene editing
• Personalized learning in the digital age
• Ecosystem services
• Cultural assimilation versus cultural preservation
• Sustainable fashion
• Gender equality in the workplace
• Financial literacy and its impact on personal finance
• Ethical considerations in artificial intelligence
• Welfare state and social safety nets

Need more topics? Check out this definition essay topics blog!

Definition Essay Writing Tips

Knowing the correct writing procedure is not enough if you are not aware of the essay’s small technicalities. To help students write a definition essay effortlessly, expert writers of CollegeEssay.org have gathered some simple tips.

These easy tips will make your assignment writing phase easy.

• Choose an exciting yet informative topic for your essay.
• When selecting the word, concept, or term for your essay, make sure you have the knowledge.
• When consulting a dictionary for the definition, provide proper referencing as there are many choices available.
• To make the essay informative and credible, always provide the origin and history of the term.
• Highlight different meanings and interpretations of the term.
• Discuss the transitions and evolution in the meaning of the term in any.
• Provide your perspective and point of view on the chosen term.

Following these tips will guarantee you better grades in your academics.

By following the step-by-step approach explained in this guide, you will acquire the skills to craft an outstanding essay. 

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Our dedicated definition essay writing service is here to craft the perfect essay that meets your academic needs.

For an extra edge, explore our AI essay writer , a tool designed to refine your essays to perfection. 

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Are you looking for some of the best definition essay topics available? If so, you are in the right place. In this blog post, we have discussed great definition paper topics that can help you complete your assignment. Continue reading to understand the meaning of definition essay topics, explore the best way to select one, and get common tips to help you write a quality essay. Our essay writing services have also provided a list of topic ideas on various subjects to guide your research and writing.

What Are Definition Essay Topics?

A definition essay is a paper that explains the meaning of an idea, word, or term. It can also be described as an intricate dictionary that not only defines a term but also provide in-depth explanation and illustrations. Definition essay topics are the primary subject matters in a definition essay. Writers expound on definitions essay topics to inform readers about concepts or explain a word or term that has an abstract meaning.  When researching topics for a definition essay, you should explore alternative interpretations from different perspectives. In other words, you can provide both official meaning and your personal interpretation with multiple examples. This type of paper, in many instances, should not be more than 250-500 words long.

Characteristics of Good Definition Essay Topics

Good definition essay topics share some unique characteristics. When selecting a subject matter, you should consider an issue that is simple to write and is interesting to readers. So, what is a good topic for a definition essay? Good definition paper topics should:

• Have multiple meanings and interpretations.
• Relate to unique word, phrase, or concept that will engage readers.
• Discuss a subject that is both interesting and informative.
• Relate to subjects that you have many different perspectives on.

How to Choose a Definition Essay Topic?

Topics you select play a key role in determining your success in writing an academic paper. Choosing definition topics can be very challenging. In many cases, instructor will provide you with a list of ideas to pick from. However, in other scenarios, you may be required to research a definition essay topic from scratch. In this section, you will find common tips to guide you in choosing paper topics. Follow the steps below to select a good definition paper topic.

• Select good words to write a definition essay on. Avoid words with single meanings.
• Pick argumentative phrases and concepts which will enable you to express your writing skills and knowledge on your preferred subject. You should be able to write more than one paragraph on your selected topics.
• Check for unique words and phrases that can engage your potential readers.
• Develop a list of all possible topics to select from.
• Choose a topic you are sure about. Select a topic that you have broad knowledge and points of view on.

It’s always a great idea to consult your professor before commencing a task. But if you need some writing inspiration, take a look below or try our Random Essay Topic Generator .

Best Definition Essay Topics List

Choosing a good topic is your first step towards writing a good academic paper. If you follow tips provided in sections above, you should be able to select some of the best definition essay topics available. Definition essay topic list below outlines great examples that you can choose from.

• How can you define fun?
• What does affirmative action mean and how is it being used in present-day society?
• What is religion?
• Define the argument concept.
• How do you define social class?
• What is artificial intelligence?
• Are centralized and decentralized governments any different?
• What is a personal understanding of power?
• What is cryptocurrency and how does it deviate from the conventional financial system?
• What is your understanding of corporate social responsibility?

Definitional Argument Essay Topics

For definition argument essay topics, you need to write about subjects that attract divergent opinions and thus, closely debated. Therefore, rather than having a topic that is straightforward and one-dimensional, definition argument topics should be argumentative in nature. Below are some examples of definitional argument topics in case you don’t know how to title an essay :

• Physical activity should be encouraged more in schools.
• Explain advantages and disadvantages of capital punishment.
• Do high school students benefit from take-away assignments?
• Abortion should be a legalized service.
• Sex education should be included in school curricula from an early age.
• Plastic surgery creates unrealistic beauty standards.
• Is working out beneficial to your mental health?
• Vaping is more dangerous compared to smoking.
• Grading should be abolished in schools.
• Genetically modified products are dangerous and should be abolished.
• Video games negatively affect children’s social development.
• Tertiary education should be free.
• Is it ethical to use animals as test subjects?
• Euthanizing animals is unethical.
• Should vaccination be made mandatory?

Extended Definition Essay Topics

Contrary to other topic categories, extended definition essay topics take up more pages. A simple elucidation will not suffice. You will need to provide elaborate explanations and illustrations for readers to better understand extended definition topics. Below are some examples of extended definition essay topic ideas that you can use:

• What does true friendship mean in modern-day society?
• What makes a good partner in marriage?
• What does misogyny and bigotry mean in the 21st century?
• What are the main characteristics of a good leader?
• Religious bigotry in Pakistan.
• What is your interpretation of a mature individual?
• What makes a person trustworthy?
• What is your definition of a happy marriage?
• What is the difference between ego and high personal standards?
• How can you define common sense?
• What is a creative mind?
• What is a healthy weight?
• Who is a patriotic citizen?
• Who is an intelligent person to you?
• What are the characteristics of a good person?

Need more ideas? Check our blog with extended essay topics and spot a catchy title.

Controversial Definition Paper Topics

Due to people’s divergent opinions, some subjects are very controversial. You risk offending a certain group of your readers when discussing controversial paper ideas. You should, therefore, pay more attention and be keener when discussing them. Below are examples of controversial topics for definition papers:

• Ethical justification of death penalty.
• Different ages of consent across different cultures.
• Is abortion the murdering of an unborn child?
• What is the meaning of gun control?
• What is social media addiction?
• What is the definition of mental disorder in modern society?
• Difference between sex and gender.
• What is a physician-assisted suicide?
• What is the modern interpretation of feminism?
• What is a juvenile correctional system in the US?
• What laws regulate immigration in America?
• What is freedom of speech in the context of modern society?
• What are the residency rights of Palestinian in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
• What is considered as explicit content in 21st century society?
• What is home-schooling and its benefits?

Good Topics for a Definition Essay

To select good topics for definition essays, you need to have a perfect balance of creativity and intellect to come up with a subject that will intrigue your audience. Also, good definition essay topics should be simple to write and not complex to follow for your readers. Below is a list of some good topics:

• What does “peace of mind” mean?
• What is your perception of poverty in different social classes?
• Define different types of art.
• What is your personal understanding of love?
• What is reverse racism?
• What is global warming and how does it impact climate change?
• Difference between respect and admiration.
• What is your understanding of the term “natural beauty”?
• What is the meaning of good parenting?
• Define the concept of the rule of law.
• Define the right to privacy in the context of modern-day technology.
• What does sportsmanship mean?
• Explain peer pressure and its impact on school-going children?
• What is online shopping?
• What is the meaning of the term “gender neutral”?

Once you spot a perfect idea and realize that the deadline is approaching, remember that you can trust professionals and order an essay online at StudyCrumb .

Creative Definition Essay Topics

You need creative definition essay writing topics if you wish to capture your readers’ attention. When exploring definition topic ideas for your essay, you should ensure that it is not only informative but also intriguing. In this section, you will come across some of the most creative topic ideas that you can use to develop a good essay.

• What is love at first sight?
• What is a respectable job?
• How do you differentiate pleasure from happiness?
• What is the difference between risk-taking and stupid decisions?
• What is courage?
• How does high self-esteem differ from arrogance?
• What is the meaning of self-respect?
• Define creativity and provide different types of creative works.
• What is the meaning of a creative mind?
• What is a nuclear family and its composition?
• Define the concept of best friends.
• How can you discern self-respect from pride?
• Are religious people more moral?
• Why are the best students less successful in life compared to average students?
• How do you define dedication in a relationship?

Easy Definition Essay Topics

Complexity of definition essay topics varies depending on students’ academic level or the target reader. For example, a high school student will work on an easy topic for a definition essay compared to a college student. Below are some simple topics for a definition paper:

• What is racism?
• What does it mean to be a good student?
• What is the meaning of term “peer pressure”?
• What is the meaning of laziness?
• What is greed?
• What is the meaning of cyberbullying?
• What is classical music?
• What is the definition of charisma?
• What does it mean to become wealthy?
• What exactly is hard work?
• How do you keep power?
• How can you define the word optimism?
• What does the term “ agriculture ” mean?
• What is the meaning of indoor sports?
• What is the meaning of teamwork?

Definition Essay Ideas for Students

Sometimes, instructors may require students to write a definition essay. Good topics for definition essay should be relevant to the course content or school curriculum in general. Moreover, ideas for definition essays tend to vary depending on the academic level of students and their majors. This section outlines common definition essay topics across the high school and college levels.

Definition Essay Topics for High School

In this section, we will discuss definition essay topics that are suitable for students in grades 9-12. High school definition topics are simpler. Some definition essay topics often relate to grade-specific information. Some of the best topics are outlined below.

• Explain the meaning of trust in the context of friendship.
• What is the right age to start dating?
• Differentiate between knowledge and wisdom.
• Define the term “conspiracy theory”.
• Differentiate between marriage and cohabitation.
• Define the communism concept.
• Define consumerism in present-day society.
• Define antisemitism.
• Discern intellectual from intelligent.
• What is the meaning of positive discrimination and how can it be used for the benefit of society?
• Differentiate between nature and nurturing in the development of children.
• Meaning of avatar in the metaverse.
• What is conflict management?
• Define Murphy’s Law and how it can be applied in your life.
• Discuss the meaning of birth control.

Definition Essay Topics for College Students

Definition essay topics for college students are more advanced. Unlike at the high school level, where topics are not very complex, college students may be expected to research on topics that have multidimensional points of view. Are you finding trouble coming up with topics for definition paper? You can pick one from options provided below.

• What is the meaning of Islamophobia?
• Define the 3rd wave of feminism.
• Define gene therapy and its role in the medical field.
• What is the meaning of materialism and how does it vary in different cultures?
• Differentiate between communism and capitalism.
• How is male and female gaze used differently in cinema?
• Define virtual education.
• How have beauty standards evolved since the 20th century to the present-day?
• Define Xenophobia in American society.
• What is multiculturalism and how does it impact modern society?
• How does social media affect attractiveness standards?
• Define the concept of utilitarianism.
• What is the meaning of a marriage in 21st century society?
• Define and discuss effects of digital revolution.
• What is green energy?

In case you also need ideas for a descriptive essay , we’ve got a blog with a whole assortment of interesting topics. 

Definition Essay Prompts

Haven’t found ideas for a definition essay that intrigues you from the options above? Do not worry. There are still many prompts for a definition essay that are discussed in this section. There are many prompt options on multiple subjects to choose from. Ideas for definition essays have been filtered and categorized into various subjects to inspire your academic writing. Depending on your interests and preference, you can select the clearly sorted topics from the categories below.

Definition Essay Topics About Love

Love is a complex subject. The meaning of love and how it is illustrated varies from one person to another. At one point in your life, you must have experienced love. Love is a term that has multiple meanings and varied implications, making it a widely discussed definitional essay topics. Below are some of the popular definition ideas about love.

• What types of love do you know?
• Define various characteristics of love.
• Love between human and non-human.
• Define the term “love language”.
• Is love at first sight a true phenomenon?
• Is parental love automatic?
• Is there a difference between love and friendship?
• What is the meaning of self-love?
• Discuss true love.
• Does passion affect a person’s mental health?
• What is God’s love?
• Define same-sex love.
• The meaning of love in different cultural setups around the world.
• What is your ideal Valentine’s Day date?
• Define the term “soul mate”.

Family Definition Topics

Family is another multidimensional subject that has a wide spectrum of meanings. You can approach the issue from different angles, including family values, members of a family, and other related aspects. Definition paper topics about family should be written in a manner that will make it feel personal to attain optimum reaction from readers. Below is a list of ideas for a definition essay.

• What is the structure of a 21st century family?
• Effect of teenage pregnancy on families.
• Explain child marriage.
• How does the concept of family vary across different cultures around the world?
• What is the meaning of a nuclear family in present-day society?
• Differentiate between an immediate and a chosen family.
• How does the increased rate of divorce affect families?
• Compare the traditional understanding of family to the modern meaning.
• Define family values in today’s society.
• How has the internet and technology affected the institution of family?
• Differentiate joint families from private families.
• How does foster families impact child development?
• Define the primary role of a family in your life.
• Define the elements of a strong family.
• How do financial problems affect the stability of families?

Friendship Definition Essay Prompt Ideas

Friendship is another subject that is very close to many people’s hearts. Most of us have at least one person we call a friend. Relationship dynamics between different friends vary. It is understandable for people to have diverse opinions and strong feelings about the subject. As a result, there are many definition essay prompts on friendship for you to choose from. Some of the definition papers topics include:

• Explain the meaning of a true friendship.
• How much commitment does true friendship need?
• Discuss the concept of “friends with benefit”.
• Can you discern friendship from love?
• Are friends closer to you than family?
• What are the impacts of friends on your personality?
• Differentiate between online friends and physical friends.
• Define the concept of “best friends forever”.
• Is a dog a man’s best friend?
• How can you elaborate “friendship zone”?
• Define a platonic relationship.
• Can family members be friends?
• What is the ultimate test of true friendship?
• Can you have more than one best friend?
• What is your understanding of the phrase “loyal friend”?

Hero Definition Essay Topics

A person’s idea of heroes and their qualities varies from one time to another. Besides, there is no universal standard for categorizing individuals as heroes. You can easily come up with many hero definition topic ideas due to these divergent opinions. Examples of definitive essay topics on this subject include:

• Who is a hero?
• Explain visual presentation of heroes in the past versus present-day society.
• What are some characteristics of a hero?
• Discuss the stereotyping of heroes in Hollywood.
• Are heroes supposed to perform heroic actions?
• Origin of super human abilities as a stereotypical characteristic of a hero.
• Mythological versus modern-day heroes.
• Differentiate between role models and heroes.
• How can heroes inspire you?
• Define different types of heroes.
• Define the term “anti-hero”.
• What is a hero in real life?
• Explain how the concept of hero varies from one culture to another.
• Is possessing superpowers a mandatory requirement to be a hero?
• Define heroes as portrayed in Ancient Greek mythology.

Definition Essay Topics by Subject

Ideas for definition essays can fall into different categories depending on intention or the nature of the paper. We have grouped topics for a definition essay into six categories to simplify the process of selecting your preferred topic. Rather than looking through all definition topics, you can easily focus on the subject that aligns to your academic writing interests.

Business Definition Essay Topics

Below are good topics for a definition essay related to business:

• Define economic depression.
• What is the meaning of e-commerce?
• What is social media marketing?
• Define the term “start-up”.
• What is the meaning of acquisition, merger?
• Define international trade.
• What is corporate social responsibility?
• What is a business?
• Important roles of statistics in business.
• What does small and mid-size enterprise mean?

Definition Essay Topics on History

Learning about history is pivotal in ensuring that you are prepared for future events. Some of the best definition essay ideas include:

• What is history?
• Define the abolitionist movement.
• What is the American Civil War?
• Define the Arab Spring.
• What is independence?
• What is colonization?
• What was the Civil Rights Movement?
• What is a war?
• Discuss the Vietnam War.
• Define the concept of revolution.

Politics Definition Essay Topics

There are many different political systems in the world. In addition, political leaders have diverse political ideologies. As a result, people approach political science topics from different points of view. Commonly discussed topics for a definition essay include:

• What is democracy?
• Define federal versus state government.
• What is a monarchy?
• Define anarchism.
• Define the term “whistleblowing”.
• What does the term “witch hunt” mean?
• Define the Fifth Amendment and efforts to enact it.
• What is a totalitarian regime?
• What is a political party?
• What is a trade union?

Philosophy Definition Essay Topics

Philosophers in the past have been credited for the development of present-day society, government, and the education system. As a result, many philosophical things have been discussed over the years. Below is a list of some common definition topic ideas:

• Define devotion.
• What is utilitarianism?
• What is freedom?
• Define humanity.
• How do you define justice?
• Define beauty.
• Define conflict of interest.
• How can you explain the term “aura”?
• Retribution versus rehabilitation.
• Define consciousness.

Definition Essay Topics on Psychology

The study and practice of psychological concepts have increased significantly in the recent past. Below is a list of good definition essay topics related to the subject in case you are also interested:

• Define attachment theory.
• What does absolute threshold mean?
• Explain the placebo effect?
• What is a mental disorder?
• Define avoidance learning.
• What is a conditional reflex?
• Define PTSD.
• What is emotional intelligence?
• Is gender dysphoria a mental disorder?
• Define depression.

Technology & Science Definition Essay Topics

With advancements in technology, many people have increased interest in technology and science. The list below outlines definition essay topics that you can use for your paper. Check these ideas or browse these technology research topics if you need more suggestions.

• What is clean energy?
• Define fossil fuel.
• Explain the term “augmented intelligence”.
• Define identity theft.
• Define virtual assistance software.
• Define right to privacy in the current digital era.
• What does the technological term “cookies” mean?
• What is cloud computing?
• What is technology?
• Define targeted marketing.

Liked the ideas? We have more blogs dedicated to different title ideas such as expository essay topics , analysis essay topics , satirical essy topics etc. Browse through our articles to find a fitting topic for any assignment.

Bottom Line on Definition Essay Topics

In sum, a definition essay is a common type of an academic paper that requires you to define a word, term, or concept. As a student, you should be able to select good topics for a definition paper. This article provides you with excellent tips to help you in the process of identifying great definition essay topic ideas. In addition, the blog post has many examples of definition essay ideas on various subjects to simplify the writing process for you. This post should increase your chances of success in writing a definition paper.

Our academic writers are the ones you need to look up. Our professionals always deliver high-quality papers on time. Feel free to choose one of the topic ideas and contact StudyCrumb to get your essay done in no time!

FAQ About Definition Paper Topics

1. what are some good definition speech topics.

Not all definition essay topics are suitable for public speech. You should choose a topic that will capture the attention of your audience. Popular definition speech ideas include:

• What is the meaning of discipline?
• What is the modern-day standard of success?
• What are the benefits of electric vehicles?
• What is the value of time?

3. What are some great definition essay topic ideas?

This list outlines some great topic for definition essay that you can use for your definition paper.

• What is industrialization and how does it affect today’s society?
• What is grief?
• What does liberalism mean as a political movement?
• Define religion and its role in society.
• Discuss roles of religion in promoting radicalization.

2. What are popular argumentative definition essay topics?

Good definitional argument topics ideas are characterized by divergent opinions. Example of these topics include:

• Define pro-life versus pro-choice.
• Define same-sex marriage?
• Define patriotism in the context of American society.
• Define overpopulation and its danger to earth’s ecosystem.
• Define economic disparity across different ethnicities.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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Ever struggled to pick a good topic for your definition essay? You're not alone; it can be a real challenge.

Choosing the right topic isn't just about finding something random. It's about picking one that gets you excited and grabs your reader's attention.

But don't worry! We have got you covered. 

In this blog, you’ll get some great definition essay topics and useful tips on how to choose a definition essay topic. All you have to do is give this article a good read and pick an amazing topic of your interest.

• 1. A Closer Look at Definition Essay
• 2. Definition Essay Topics Ideas
• 3. Funny Definition Essay Topics
• 4. Creative Definition Essay Topics 
• 5. Easy Definition Essay Topics 
• 6. Good Definition Essay Topics
• 7. Extended Definition Essay Topics
• 8. Random Definition Essay Topics
• 9. Definition Argumentative Essay Topics
• 10. Controversial Definition Essay Topics
• 11. How to Choose a Definition Essay Topic?
• 12. Tips on How to Write a Definition Essay

A Closer Look at Definition Essay

A definition essay is a type of academic writing that defines or explains a word, term, concept, or idea. There are some words that have literal meanings and they are very easy to explain i.e. pencil, table, chair, etc. 

There are some terms that have abstract meanings and are difficult to explain i.e. love, care, emotion, and feelings.

This type of essay includes both the official meanings of the word and the writer's interpretation. This interpretation is supported by examples.

A good definition essay will not exceed one page in length, and it should include 250-500 words. The goal is for the student to expand on a word’s usage. This can be done by explaining other possible concepts of what they are analyzing - this makes them more interesting!

Definition Essay Topics Ideas

When you search over the internet you’ll get plenty of definition essay topics. Having a lot of ideas in hand can make the topic selection process difficult. That is why we have compiled a list of some effective and interesting definition essay topics. 

Check out these creative definition essay topics lists below and choose the best one for your essay.

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Definition Essay Topics for High School Students

• Identity in the Digital Age
• Empathy in a Diverse World
• Global Citizenship
• Intellectual Curiosity
• Civic Engagement
• Environmental Stewardship
• Ethical Leadership
• Cultural Fluency
• Mindfulness in Education
• Critical Thinking

Definition Essay Topics for College Students

• What is the meaning of optimism?
• What does sincerity mean?
• Love at first sight
• The true meaning of respect
• The actual definition of family
• Define Buddhism
• Who is a strong leader?
• What is the actual meaning of ambitions?
• Define racism in your own words
• How will you define success?

Definition Essay Topic on Mass Media

• The evolution of 'news' in the digital age: redefining journalism.
• The true meaning of 'media bias': navigating perspectives.
• The influence of 'social media': defining modern connectivity.
• The power of 'advertising': shaping perceptions and desires.
• Reality TV: a new definition of 'entertainment'?
• The impact of 'fake news': deconstructing information manipulation.
• The definition of 'clickbait': balancing engagement and misleading content.
• Streaming services: redefining 'television' in the 21st century.
• The role of 'podcasts' in modern communication: beyond radio.
• Citizen journalism: broadening the scope of 'media.

Funny Definition Essay Topics

• Awkward Dancing
• Chaos Theory
• Social Media Stalking
• Mismatched Socks
• Infinite Scroll
• Bad Hair Days
• Pajama Fashion
• Fast Food Gourmet
• Napping Olympics
• Pencil Tossing

Creative Definition Essay Topics 

• The Essence of Wanderlust: Defining the Spirit of Adventure
• Epic Fails: The Art and Science of Learning from Mistakes
• Digital Detox: Navigating Life in the Age of Screens
• Ambition Redefined: Pursuing Dreams in the Real World
• Friendship in the Digital Age: The Modern Definition of 'BFF'
• Mindfulness Unveiled: Embracing the Present Moment
• Nostalgia: Journeying into the Past Through Rose-Tinted Glasses
• Resilience: Bouncing Back from Life's Unexpected Twists
• The Art of Simplicity: Finding Beauty in the Basics
• Silence Speaks: Exploring the Power of Quiet Moments

Easy Definition Essay Topics 

• Privacy 
• Humanity 

Good Definition Essay Topics

• Describe laziness
• Define attitude
• What is magnetism?
• How do you define attraction?
• Define human rights
• What is the meaning of responsibilities?
• Time management
• Define health
• Define class
• What is the meaning of wealth

Unique Definition Essay Topics

• The quirkiness of 'fam': exploring unconventional family structures.
• The essence of 'chill': beyond a relaxing vibe.
• Defining 'awkward': navigating social discomfort.
• The true meaning of 'indie': beyond music and film.
• The 'vibe' culture: capturing the unspoken atmosphere.
• Decoding 'meme culture': more than just humor.
• The complexity of 'cool': an ever-changing definition.
• The 'hacktivist' movement: merging hacking and activism.
• Retro: nostalgia or a timeless definition?
• The art of 'hygge': coziness in a single word.

One Word Definition Essay Topics:

• Sustainability

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Classification and Definition Essay Topics

• Types of friendship: defining bonds beyond acquaintanceship.
• Genres of literature: from mystery to science fiction.
• Learning styles: understanding varied approaches to education.
• Personality types: navigating the landscape of traits.
• Cuisine categories: exploring the world through food.
• Forms of government: beyond democracy and authoritarianism.
• Music genres: from classical to experimental.
• Social media users: the diverse landscape of online presence.
• Educational philosophies: from Montessori to Waldorf.
• The world of gaming: classifying video game genres.

Simple Definition Essay Topics:

• Friendship: what does it truly mean to be a friend?
• Happiness: beyond smiles and laughter.
• Home: defining the heart of comfort.
• Success: navigating achievements and fulfillment.
• Courage: facing fear with grace.
• Kindness: the power of small acts.
• Respect: cultivating dignity in interactions.
• Family: beyond blood ties.
• Trust: the foundation of genuine connections.
• Wisdom: gained through experience and reflection.

Extended Definition Essay Topics

• What does the term freedom mean?
• Define ownership in your own words
• What is the meaning of the term character?
• The current American dream
• The evolution of the definitions
• Define experience in your own words
• What is common sense?
• Explore the term science
• What role does a degree play in a student’s life?
• Time: The Elusive Concept That Shapes Our Lives

Random Definition Essay Topics

• Small business
• Masculinity
• Artificial Intelligence
• Individuality

Definition Argumentative Essay Topics

• Democracy vs. Dictatorship
• Meaning of two sides of a coin
• Classical music vs. Pop music
• Friendship vs. Love
• The Fluid Concept of 'Justice'
• Equality vs. Equity
• The Definition of 'Art'
• Security in the 21st Century
• Defining 'Fake News' in a Post-Truth Society
• The Definition of 'Heroism'

Controversial Definition Essay Topics

• Defining Patriotism: Where Loyalty Ends and Extremism Begins.
• Freedom of Speech: Navigating the Thin Line Between Expression and Harm.
• The Slippery Slope of Political Correctness: Balancing Respect and Censorship.
• The Fluid Boundaries of 'Cultural Appropriation' in Art and Fashion.
• Gender Identity: Beyond Binary – The Controversy of Pronouns.
• The Definition of 'Addiction': Disease or Personal Responsibility?
• Euthanasia: Dignity in Death or Slippery Moral Slope?
• The Controversy of 'Trigger Warnings': Protecting or Censoring?
• Defining 'Fake News' in a Post-Truth Era: Information or Manipulation?
• The Line Between 'National Security' and Invasion of Privacy.

How to Choose a Definition Essay Topic?

The success of your essay majorly depends on the topic. A good topic is a key element in writing a good essay. So when you choose a topic for your essay, keep the following things in mind.

• Choose a topic that has a broad meaning rather than a literal meaning.
• Make sure you understand the topic completely.
• Make sure that the subject should be interesting for you.
• The topic should be interesting for the reader as well.
• Choose a word, idea or term that is fresh for the audience.
• Avoid picking any common topic that the reader is already familiar with.
• Choose an idea that connects with your target audience.

Choosing a controversial topic is quite easier than choosing a common definition essay topic. As you have a few options to choose from and a little space to write about it. But if you keep the instructions given above in mind, you can easily choose an amazing topic for your essay.

Tips on How to Write a Definition Essay

Here are some tips that you should learn before writing your essay. These steps will help you structure your essay in a proper format.

• Pick an interesting and unique paper topic.
• Research the topic thoroughly and collect detailed information about it.
• Create a definition essay outline , it will help you follow the essay pattern. Without an outline, it is really difficult to craft a good essay according to the format.
• Tell the exact meaning of your subject in the introduction part. Present the thesis statement that provides a detailed meaning of the essay topic. Your introduction should be able to grab the reader’s attention and make them read the complete essay.
• In the body paragraphs, provide evidence that supports your personal and dictionary definitions. Elaborate on the topic with the help of your personal experience examples.
• In the conclusion section, just sum up all the explanations and descriptions. This is akin to closing remarks, so do not provide a fresh idea over here. Provide your close remarks and finish the essay.
• After writing the essay, spare some time for the proofreading and editing process. Check your essay for spelling and grammatical mistakes. Remove all the errors from the essay to make it flawless.

Definition Essay Structure

Your final definition paper may have a structure similar to this:

• A copy-pasted or paraphrased definition from the dictionary.
• Writer’s personal understanding and interpretation of the word. 
• An example of the usage of the word in a real context. 
• Supporting evidence justifying the writer’s interpretation of the word.
• Conclusion summarizing each point briefly. 

In conclusion, our exploration into the world of definition essays has been a journey of discovery. We've dived into the meanings of words, navigated through controversies, and embraced creativity. Words are more than just letters; they have the power to shape thoughts and connect us in unique ways.

This essay writing guide will help you a lot in writing your essay. Make sure you follow the procedure so that you don’t make any mistakes.

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Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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