From Quotation to Interpretation in Informational Texts

While teaching writing/grammar at a charter school, I frantically searched for new, interesting writing prompts to stimulate my middle school students. First, I brainstormed at least fifty topics that seemed interesting to me. Then, I turned to the Internet. After that, I bought a conversation cube. As time passed, my brain power dipped again and I felt incapable of creating or finding prompts I was excited about. Either the questions felt so ordinary that they weren’t interesting, or so extraordinary that they seemed ridiculous. So, I used the idea of golden lines in literature (finding quotes from the literary work that have a deeper truth) to create weekly prompts that included powerful quotes. Now, these prompts are a staple in my classroom! Some weeks I simply collect some of my favorite, thought-provoking phrases. Other weeks, I search newspaper articles for a standout quotation to get my students thinking about our country, controversial issues, global warming, the national debt, etc.

Introduce the Assignment

Whether the focus is on thought-provoking quotations, well-known quotations, or on quotations from the newspaper, the assignment is the same. My kids get three writing options and twenty minutes for a written response. In this twenty minute writing exercise, my students know they must produce written work that adheres to the following guidelines: 

• Respond to only one of the provided quotes.
• Write a seven to ten sentence paragraph in response to the quotation.
• Use the quotation within the text, including citing the speaker's/author's name.
• Define or explain the quotation in their own words.
• Connect the quotation to their life, a piece of literature, or an example in history.
• Re-read and revise their response.

Sometimes, depending on the selection, it might make sense to add an additional guideline. But for the most part, the assignment remains the same, and the options are kept open in order to elicit a natural response. Also, when first assigning this type of writing project, modeling the process is extremely beneficial, as it allows me to highlight my expectations to the class.

Incorporate Pearls of Wisdom

You can find well-known quotations on Brainy Quote or look on Pinterest quote boards for ideas for your weekly quotation prompts. Remember to look for examples that will connect to students' lives. Here are some quotations that middle and high school students enjoy using as writing prompts: 

• “If you’ve never lost your mind, then you’ve never followed your heart.” -Anonymous
• “The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” - Ram Dass
• “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” -Aristotle
• “The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us but those who win battles we know nothing about.” –Unknown
• “Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” -Booker T. Washington
• “No one is in charge of your happiness except for you.” –Unknown
• “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” -Winston Churchill
• “Don’t raise your voice. Improve your argument.” –Desmund Tutu
• “Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.” -George Bernard Shaw
• “Stars can’t shine without darkness.” –Unknown
• “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.” -Greek proverb
• “The best way out is always through.” -Robert Frost 

Integrate Non-Fiction Texts

Now, more than ever, is the time to bring non-fiction texts into your classroom. Incorporating more non-fiction into lessons is one of the major changes the Common Core State Standards makes in the language arts/English curriculum. My favorite non-fiction texts come from the websites of National Geographic, the New York Times, Psychology Today, and Time Magazine. They present current and interesting information.

I was on Time’s website for less than five minutes before I ran into this article about Facebook. Here is a topic that’s sure to spark this age group’s interest. The article is called, “Why Facebook Makes You Feel Bad About Yourself,” and without having them read the entire article, simply ask them to respond to this quotation: “The most common cause of Facebook frustration came from users comparing themselves socially to their peers, while the second most common source of dissatisfaction was 'lack of attention' from having fewer comments, likes, and general feedback compared to friends.”

Since the vast majority of middle and high school pupils are an active part of the Facebook community, responses should be prolific and interesting. Present a second prompt option in the event that some members of your class are not on the social media site. You can make this second prompt follow a similar theme, like comparing oneself to others. 

Respond to Peers' Writing  

After the writing period, either dedicate time to peer editing, or group your writers so they can share their pieces with one another. Instead of having them read their responses aloud, set them up for a silent response. The focus shifts from grammar, spelling, and mechanics, to responding to the connections they made in their writing. Note: If you’ve included class time to sharing written work, inform your class at the start of the period. Not all students feel comfortable sharing their personal connections with their peers.  

Where do you look to find new writing prompts? Are there specific resources you currently check in with? Help the Lesson Planet community by commenting below!

Investigate More Writing Prompt Ideas:

Writing Prompts for High School 

Included here is a packet of writing prompts to present to your high schoolers. Some of them are original and interesting; sift through to find the ones that pique your interest.

Student-Generated Prompts

If you’re looking to include your class in the process of creating written prompts, this could be the lesson for you! Encourage them to come up with creative questions, statistics, or personal stories. You’re sure to have several different options with this plan!

Untying the Knot

What are the current trends in divorce? What contributes to this? Examine celebrity relationship trends and how they relate to the general public using this discussion lesson. Middle schoolers analyze the results of a Census Bureau study about marriage and divorce. Instead of having pupils participate in a fishbowl discussion, carve out time for a written response to the article.