Previously Used Topics--Nevada High School Proficiency Exam in Writing--2005 to 1998

Date

Type of Prompt

11, 12 & Adult Prompts

May, 2005

Regular Topic

Many things happen everyday that are humorous. Think of something funny that has happened to you or to someone you know. Write about that experience.

Alternate Topic

Concerns about student diets have led to the removal of junk food like candy, chips and sodas in many schools Do you agree with this policy? Defend your position.

April, 2005

Regular Topic

Looking back, each of us has a year that was better than the others. Think about a year that was your favorite year. Explain your choice.

What is the most important advice that you could give to another person? Explain why you think this advice is important.

Alternate Topics

Each of us is learning all the time. Think of something that you have learned recently. Write about your experience of learning and how it has affected you.

Choose one thing that you like most about yourself or about someone close to you. Explain why.

February, 2005

Regular Topics

Sometimes we have to work hard to finish something we have started. Think about a time when you or someone you know did not give up on something that was important. Write about that experience.

Complete the following statement, and defend your answer. “I believe that every person has the right to…”.

Alternate Topics

Weather can often have an influence on what happens to us. Write about a time when the weather played a part in an experience that happened to you or to someone you know.

People often debate the value of formal education. Some believe leaving school and going to work before graduation has advantages. Others believe success will come from staying in school. How important do you think a high school education is in today’s society? Explain your answer.

November, 2004

Regular Topics

Water is connected to many experiences that we have. Think of an experience you or someone you know has had that involved water. Write about what happened.

People can be “rich” in more ways than just by having a great amount of money. Think of another way that you or someone you know may be “rich” in something other than money. Explain how that person is “rich.”

Alternate Topics

Food is connected to many experiences that we have. Think about an experience that you or someone you know has had that involved food Write about what happened.

We all have someone we respect. Think of a person whom you respect. Explain why you respect the person you chose.

July, 2004

Regular Topics

Sometimes even small things make a difference in someone else’s life. If you could do one small thing to make someone’s life better, what would it be? Explain what you would do for the person and why.

Alternate Topics

Some countries require that all men and women provide two years of military service to their country before they reach the age of 25. Argue for or against this requirement.

May, 2004

Regular Topics

Most people have a day that they remember because it was special for them in some way. Choose a day that was special for you, and tell about it.

In the United States, people have many different kinds of freedom, but not everyone places the same value on each freedom. Choose one freedom that you believe is the most important. Present an argument to convince others that the freedom you chose is important and should be protected.

March, 2004

Regular Topics

There are many different ways to be smart. Describe a person who you think is smart. Explain why you chose the person you did.

To motivate students to stay in school, some people suggest that students under the age of 18 who drop out of school should lose the right to drive. Agree or disagree with this idea. Defend your choice.

Alternate Topics

We all remember certain people because they are interesting. Choose one interesting or unusual person you have known, and explain what makes that person so interesting to you.

Think of an environmental problem that exists. Explain the problem, and convince your reader of the best way to solve this difficulty.

February, 2004

Regular Topics

During high school, you have taken many different classes. Choose the class you have taken that is your favorite one, and explain why you chose that class.

Many school districts have separate schools for those students who often misbehave and interfere with classroom learning. Do you agree or disagree with this policy? Write a paper explaining the reasons for your opinion.

Alternate Topics

Some people are reluctant to ask for help when something is difficult. Think of a time when you had to do something difficult and you had to ask for help. Explain what happened and what you learned.

You have been given an all-expense paid trip to a place or city of your choice. What would you choose to go and why?

November, 2003

Regular Topics

Write about an experience that was important to you that involved money. It might be an experience in which you earned, lost, spent, or were given money. Tell what the experience was and why the experience was important to you.

Think of an advertisement or commercial you have particularly liked or disliked. Describe the commercial or advertisement and explain why you liked or disliked it.

Alternate Topics

Life is full of surprises. Choose one time when something unexpected happened to you Write about what happened and why it surprised you.

Our society has many problems. Identify one of these problems that you believe is the most important. Explain the problem, and suggest a possible solution to it.

July, 2003

Regular Topic

Think of something that you have that you value but did not buy for yourself. Describe what it is, and explain why you chose it.

Alternate Topic

Some schools in the United States require that students volunteer for several hours each semester to help provide service to the community. Do you think that students should be required to volunteer to help in the community? Write an essay explaining your position.

May, 2003

Regular Topic

Think of a character from a book, movie, or television show that you would like to spend a day with. Explain why you chose this character and what you would most like to learn from him/her.

Alternate Topic

Some people never want to grow up and become adults, and some can hardly wait. Choose ONE of the following statements and give support for that opinion. It is more fun to be a child than an adult. It is more fun to be an adult than a child.

April, 2003

Regular Topics

We all remember certain people from our past, and we forget others. Think about a person you remember. Describe him or her, and explain why that person is memorable to you.

We live in a society that values money, and many people place more importance on money than on other aspects of their lives. Write a paper in which you agree or disagree with the statement, “People today are too concerned about making money.” Give reasons that will help the reader understand your opinion.

Alternate Topics

Think of a book, poem, song, or movie that you have found interesting and that has had an impact on your life. Write about your choice, explaining what you found interesting and how it has affected you.

There are many things you must consider when selecting a career for your future. Write an essay to convince your reader that the career you have selected is the best one for you.

February, 2003

Regular Topics

When we meet people or visit places, we often come to conclusions based on our first impression. Tell about a time when your first impression changed. Describe your first impression and how and why it changed.

Many events occur in the world each day. Choose one event that gives you the most hope for the future. Explain why you chose the event you did.

Alternate Topics

Courage comes in many shapes and forms, and each person encounters situations that require different kinds of courage. Write about a time when you or someone else was courageous.

Some people say that the most important quality a person can have is a sense of humor. Write a paper in which you take a clear stand, agreeing or disagreeing with this statement. Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.

November, 2002

Regular Topics

Tell about something that you do well. It should be something that you know a great deal about. Make your description and/or explanation so clear that your audience will understand that you are knowledgeable about your subject.

Some students drop out of school before they graduate. Your good friend has decided to drop out of school. What would you say to convince your friend this is not a good idea?

Alternate Topics

Each of us has listened to an older person, such as a grandparent, uncle, aunt, mother, father, older brother or sister, or an older friend, tell about an important event in his/her life. Retell the story so that the reader can picture what happened and why it was important to that person.

At eighteen, young people are given the right to vote. Some people do not register to vote because they think that one vote cannot make a difference. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your reasoning.

July, 2002

Regular Topic

You have invited a famous person from the past to have dinner with you. Explain why you chose this person and what you would want to talk to this person about.

Alternate Topic

If you were given the opportunity to spend two hours each week working on a community task of your choice, explain where you would volunteer and why, what you would accomplish, and how it would benefit your environment.

April, 2002

Regular Topics

Think about an activity that you participated in or observed where things did not turn out the way you or others involved expected. Write about what happened. (Narrative)

Many famous people, both real and fictional, have been honored by having their pictures on postage stamps. Choose a real or fictional person who you believe deserves this honor. Write a paper that would persuade others that your choice is a good one. (Persuasive)

Alternate Topics

As you have grown up, you have assumed many responsibilities. Tell about a time when you took responsibility for something or someone, why you did it, and what you learned.(Narrative)

There have been many inventions and discoveries throughout history. Select the discovery or invention that you consider to be the most important or most beneficial, and explain why. (Persuasive)

February, 2002

Regular Topics

People learn from a variety of lessons and experiences. Describe an experience from which you learned something important. (Narrative)

Some people believe that boys and girls should go to different schools. Decide whether you think it is a good idea or not and persuade your readers to agree with your decision. (Persuasive)

Alternate Topics

We hear about male and female heroes from the past and in the present. Pick a person you think is a hero. Describe what makes that person heroic so your reader will understand who that person is and explain why she or he is a hero.(Narrative)

What is the single most important thing students need to know to succeed in high school? Persuade an incoming student to follow your advice so that he/she may succeed. (Persuasive)

October, 2001

Regular Topics

If you could be someone else for a day, who would he/she be? What would you accomplish in your one day as that person? (Narrative)

Schools have many rules. Some we agree with and some we think are unnecessary. Pick a rule that you think should be changed and write to persuade your principal to change it. (Persuasive)

Alternate Topics

Stories in books, movies and on television have many interesting characters. Think about a character from a story. Pretend you could be that character for a day. Describe who that person is and why you chose him/her.(Narrative)

People have a variety of personality traits. What one trait do you feel is the most important for a person to lead a good and useful life? Defend your answer by explaining why you feel it is so important. (Persuasive)