essay prompts

Topics for papers

Essay prompts are questions or statements that give writers a starting point for essays, typically in academic or testing contexts.

A prompt might ask students to analyze a text, argue a position, or reflect on an experience.

The term also applies to creative writing exercises designed to spark ideas: The teacher gave us three essay prompts to choose from.

Opposites
response format

essay promptsbubble tests

yes/no questions

cognitive demand type

essay promptstrivia questions

Queries testing obscure facts

vocabulary drills · drill exercises · spelling tests

Family

essay, essays, essayed, essaying, essayist, essayists, prompt, prompts, prompted

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G