Social Studies: 50 Engaging Quick Writes for Middle School

Looking to increase writing in your social studies classes? You're not alone.

According to the Institute of Education Sciences, students should be writing across disciplines for at least 60 minutes per day. Yet, only 13 percent of eighth-grade teachers ask their students to write persuasively weekly.

Ancient Civilizations

1. Imagine you are an archaeologist who has just uncovered a new artifact from Ancient Egypt. Describe what it is and what it reveals about the civilization.
2. Compare the governments of Ancient Rome and Ancient China. How did they influence their societies?
3. Explain how the geography of Mesopotamia contributed to the development of its civilization.
4. Debate whether the achievements of the Ancient Greeks or Romans had a greater impact on the modern world.
5. Narrative: Write a story from the perspective of a child growing up in Ancient Greece. What is your daily life like?

World Religions

1. Imagine you are a traveler in ancient times, visiting a temple of a world religion you’re unfamiliar with. Describe your experience and what you learn.
2. Write a story about a day in the life of a young person practicing a major world religion. What rituals or traditions do you follow?
3. Compare the core beliefs of two major world religions. How are they similar and different?
4. Explain how religion has shaped the culture and traditions of a specific region.
5. Debate the role of religion in modern society. Should it play a larger or smaller role?

Medieval Europe

1. Imagine you are a knight in medieval Europe preparing for a jousting tournament. Describe your feelings and the event.
2. Write a narrative from the perspective of a peasant living during the Middle Ages. What challenges do you face?
3. Compare the lives of people in different social classes during the Middle Ages.
4. Explain the impact of the Crusades on both Europe and the Middle East.
5. Discuss how the feudal system shaped medieval European society.

The Renaissance and Reformation

1. Write a paragraph explaining the Renaissance and how it shaped art and culture. Use details and evidence from the texts we've read.
2. Compare the Renaissance’s impact on art to its impact on science.
3. Explain the causes and effects of the Protestant Reformation.
4. Debate whether the Renaissance or the Reformation had a more significant impact on European history.
5. Narrative: Write a story about a student attending a newly established university during the Renaissance. You're having a conversation with an aunt or an uncle about what's changed in universities during the Renaissance.

Exploration and Colonization

1. Compare the motivations for European exploration in the 15th century.
2. Explain the effects of colonization on indigenous populations in the Americas.
3. Debate the ethical implications of European colonization. Was it justified?
4. Narrative: Write a narrative from the perspective of a native person encountering European explorers for the first time. How do you react?
5. Narrative: Imagine you are a sailor on one of Christopher Columbus’s voyages. Describe the journey and what you encounter.

The American Revolution

1. Explain the significance of the Declaration of Independence using evidence from what we've read.
2. Debate whether the American Revolution could have been avoided through negotiation.
3. Compare the causes of the French Revolution and the American Revolution.
4. Narrative: Write a story from the perspective of a British soldier stationed in the American colonies during the Revolution.
5. Narrative: Imagine you are a young patriot living in Boston during the American Revolution. Describe your thoughts and feelings as tensions rise, and describe your intentions about participating in the unrest and why.

7. The Constitution and Government

1. Imagine you are a delegate at the Constitutional Convention. Describe the debates and challenges of drafting the Constitution.
2. Compare the powers of the three branches of government in the U.S. Constitution.
3. Explain how the Bill of Rights protects individual freedoms.
4. Debate the effectiveness of the U.S. Constitution in addressing contemporary issues.
5. Narrative: Write a narrative from the perspective of a young person witnessing the ratification of the Constitution. How do you feel about the new government?

8. Civil War and Reconstruction

1. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War.
2. Explain the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on the course of the Civil War.
3. Debate whether Reconstruction was a success or failure in rebuilding the South.
4. Narrative: Write a story from the perspective of a newly freed person during Reconstruction. What challenges and opportunities do you face?
5. Narrative: Imagine you are a soldier in the Civil War writing a letter home. Describe your experiences on the battlefield.

9. World Geography

1. Imagine you are an explorer discovering a new land. Describe its geography and how it might influence the people who live there.
2. Compare the climate and geography of two different regions of the world.
3. Explain how geography influences the economy of a specific country.
4. Debate whether geography or culture plays a larger role in shaping a nation’s identity.
5. Narrative: Choose a region of the world and describe a day in the life of someone who lives there. Include details that show how the geography impacts their day-to-day life.

10. Contemporary World Issues

1. Imagine you are a world leader addressing the United Nations about a major global issue. What do you say?
2. Compare how two different countries are responding to the same global issue.
3. Explain the impact of technology on modern global communication.
4. Debate the most pressing global issue facing the world today and propose a solution.
5. Narrative: Write a story about a day in the life of a young person affected by a contemporary global issue, such as climate change or migration.