9th Grade Journal Prompts

1. Write a job ad for a new teacher. What qualities should a school principal look for in
conducting interviews?
2. You have just had an irritating encounter with a rude tourist at City Market and you need
to vent. Write a Facebook status update explaining what happened.
3. If I could give one piece of advice to any person in history, that advice would be…

4. What do you know now that you would like to tell your 12-year-old self? Explain.
5. Describe a dream that you had recently. Provide as many details as possible.
6. The best lesson my grandparent (or parent or any relative) ever taught me was…
7. In 20 years, I will be…
8. Tell about an event in your life that has caused a change in you…
9. I was most angry when…
10. If you could design one room in a house to suit only your needs, what would it look like?
Be creative.

11. Choose one member of your family and write a description accurate enough that a
stranger could pick him or her out in a roomful of people.
12. Describe your perfect vacation.
13. My worst mistake was…
14. Do you believe in love at first sight? [Romeo and Juliet INTRO]
15. If you and your best friend could have a free limo for 24 hours, where would you go and
what would you do?
16. You have the freedom to travel to any city or country in the world. Where would you go
and why?
17. What is your favorite movie? What is it about the movie that made you enjoy it so
much? Retell your favorite parts.
18. What would you do if you were president of the United States?
19. You have an extra $100,000 to give away; you cannot spend it on yourself. What would
you do with the money?
20. The qualities that make a best friend are… [Of Mice and Men INTRO]
21. What is the best advice you ever received?
22. What would happen if there was no television or internet? Why would this be good?
Bad?
23. What would happen if teenagers ruled the world?
24. If you could have been someone in history, who would you have been and why?
25. If you could give any gift in the world, what would you give and to whom?
26. What do you think the world needs now?
27. What do you think about people who are inconsiderate of others?
28. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not? [Halloween INTRO]
29. What do you think courage means? [Odyssey INTRO]
30. What does the word family mean? Can you choose your family? [Romeo and Juliet]
31. What makes a happy family?
32. What things do you think are beautiful?
33. What scares you? Why?
34. Describe your favorite/least favorite things about autumn. [INTRO]
35. What are some examples of prejudice?
36. What is more important to you, appearance or personality?
37. What advice would you give to a new student at this school?
38. I wish I had one… because
39. What does your family usually do over fall break? [INTRO]
40. I wish I could be like… This person is special because…
41. I wish there were a law that said… This would be a good law because…
42. I wish I could forget the time I… because…
43. I wish I could learn… because…
44. Describe a time when you felt vengeful. [Of Mice and Men INTRO]
45. Describe the best teacher you ever had. [INTRO]
46. Describe your favorite/least favorite things about winter. [INTRO]
47. When it might hurt their feelings, how do you feel about telling your friends the truth?
48. Why have men and women usually only done certain types of work?
49. Why should or shouldn’t a man stay home to care for the house and children while his
wife goes to work?
50. Describe the best day of your life so far.
51. If and when I raise children, I’ll never…
52. Ten years from now, I will be…
53. What would you do if you could travel into the past?
54. What does your family normally do over winter break? [INTRO]
55. Think back on the last year. What were the most important things that happened in
the world? In the United States? In your life? Tell why they were important.
56. What list of resolutions would you like to see the country adopt for all of us to keep
in the new year?
57. [INTRO]
58. Write about what you didn’t do this past weekend. [Monday INTRO]
59. Who is your favorite celebrity? Why?
60. Who is the most annoying celebrity? Why?
61. What current fashion in clothing do you particularly like or dislike? Why?
62. What is it like to go shopping with your parent? Do you enjoy it? Why or why not?
63. What does the United States mean to you?
64. Write about something you desperately wanted when you were younger.
65. Write about something you have lost.
66. If you had to start a new school club and it could be anything you wanted, what would it
be and why?
67. Imagine that you are an animal in a zoo. What type of animal are you? How do you feel
about being caged? How do you feel about people that visit and watch you?
68. Write about the funniest thing that ever happened to you.
69. I really hate it when my parent/guardian/sibling…
70. Are people your age mature enough to be in serious romantic relationships? [INTRO
Romeo and Juliet]
71. What would you pack in your suitcase if you knew you were about to leave and could
never return home again? [INTRO]
72. If you could only speak ten words for the rest of your life, what words would be on your
list and why?
73. Describe a fight you had with your parent/guardian. Now tell it from their point of view.
74. You are shipwrecked on a deserted island. What three people would you like to have with
you and why?
75. Do your parents trust you? Write about a time they have shown you that they do or do
not?

76. How do others see you? If a person didn't know you, what could he or she find out about
you from the way you act, dress, talk, and the way others treat you?
77. How do you know someone loves you, even if he or she doesn’t say it?
78. If you had to work at any store in your favorite mall, which store would it be and why?
79. How can you tell when spring is almost here? Describe the "clues" you can see,
smell, hear, and touch.
80. Describe the most difficult thing about being your age.
81. If you could study one subject in school that isn’t offered at GCHS, what would it be and
why?
82. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
83. What is the definition of success?

84. Do you think it is the responsibility of parents to know what their kids are watching on
TV? Explain.
85. Do you feel that teenagers are discriminated against? Why or why not?
86. Write a letter to your parent/guardian persuading them to either buy you something you
want or let you do something they usually forbid.
87. Write a note to the person next to you convincing them to let you cheat off their paper on
the next quiz.
88. The principal is considering making this a closed campus. Explain why this is a terrible
idea.
89. You are a door-to-door salesperson. What are you selling and why should I buy it?
90. Pick one of your teachers and write them a letter convincing them that you deserve an A
in their class.
91. Can you pick out what age, interests, or gender group a particular magazine is
targeting by its advertisements? Describe.
92. Why do you think academic classes like English, math, science, and history are
harder than the elective classes? Or is this not true?
93. Some adults have large collections of LEGOs, dolls, or trains. What "toy" do you think
you might still like to have around as an adult? Why?

94. Do you think people gossip too much? Write your thoughts about it.
95. Write a letter persuading the cafeteria workers to serve your favorite dish at lunch.
96. Explain to a good friend why that article of clothing or hairstyle doesn’t work for them.
Try not to hurt their feelings.

97. If you could go back to the beginning of the school year, what one piece of advice would
you give yourself. Why?
98. What is your biggest pet peeve? Why?

99. Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." What do you think
he meant by that?
100. What are you most looking forward to doing this summer? Who will you miss not
seeing every day in school?