I. The First Person Narrative

Points of Emphasis: characters,setting, dialogue, cohesiveness of plot

My Very Earliest Memory...

My life as a dog, turtle, goldfishÖ

Meeting relatives or old family friends for the first time...

An embarrassing moment that now seems quite comical

I'll never forget the time I...

My Brush With Fame (seen, met, know somebody famous)

If you were an extraterrestrial describe a baffling observation about American culture

Emergencies sometimes bring out the best in people-sometimes the worst...have you observed examples of either?

How I've changed from last year...

II. Persuasive Five-Paragraph Essay

Points of Emphasis: Opinions supported with reasons, details, examples)

My nominee for student of the month....

A serious discussion on the possibility of life on other planets...

The lamest, dumbest, stupidest television show of all time...

A great store for shopping/restaurant for eating

My favorite school vacation.....

Are American schools too strict or too easy.  Be serious.
 

III. Compare and Contrast

Points of Emphaisis: organizational techniques and transitional words

Compare cats and dogs or birds and fish...

Compare your room with someone else's (sibling, friend)

Compare boys and girls

Compare two fast food places

Compare the best two days of the week: Saturday and Sunday

Where I Used To live or where I went to School...(better or worse)
 

IV. Explanatory with reasons or details

Advice for someone about to be the parent of a teenager...

A person I admire very much (personal acquaintance)

The most beautiful place I've ever been....

A difficult decision I have made in my life...

If I could be a superhero for dayÖwho, what, why..

If I won a free trip to anywhere in the United States where would I go and why...

The best advice anyone ever gave me...

A very memorable coach/instructor...

An important historical figure/invention...

Something I really like to do...

Describe the best birthday party you had or attended...

What is the best gift you could give your mom or dad
 

V. Explanatory With Examples or Anecdotes

Points of emphasis: using examples and anecdotal information to explain

What I look for in a friend...

My favorite movie of all time....

The unusaul behavior of my pet hamster, dog, cat....

My Time Capsule Of Life In a California suburb in 2000 A.D.

My perfect birthday dinner...

Describe the things in your backpack.

My very unhappy friend...

How to look and act like a Teenager...

Which sport is the best spectator sport?  Which sport is the best to play...