Determine what you intend to accomplish with this prompt. Is it for a graded assignment, or is it a pre-reading activity? Do you intend the prompt for creative, narrative, expository or persuasive writing? Are you trying to meet a standard, or do you want to activate your students' prior knowledge about a topic? These questions will help you determine the content of your prompt for middle school English.
Examine other writing prompts or famous quotations for inspiration. You may find that someone else's prompt is close to one you would like to use. You may also find a quotation that encapsulates the ideas you wish to incorporate, which would allow you to prompt students to agree or disagree with that quotation.
Begin with a phrase such as "Write about a time when . . .," "Explain how someone might . . .," "Write a story beginning with the following sentence," or "Agree or disagree with the following statement." These basic beginnings for writing prompts can stir your imagination if you are stuck.
Write a brief prompt. If your prompt is too wordy, your students may become confused. You should be able to state your prompt in a sentence or two.
Add supporting questions if necessary. For instance, if your prompt is "Write about a real or fictional person who you admire," some students may write, "I admire Superman because he's a hero." To avoid this, you may wish to add questions such as, "Who is this person? What qualities do you admire about him or her?"
Write at least one more prompt. Students will feel more ownership of an essay if they have choices. Furthermore, if your prompt is too specific, students who cannot respond to it will have another option.
Review your prompts to make sure they are age-appropriate, school-appropriate and respectful of your students' privacy. Middle school students should not answer prompts that deal with sex or extreme violence. Additionally, you should not ask the students to address a controversial issue.
Reread your prompts to make sure they do not exclude any students. A prompt which demands that students write about out-of-town vacations excludes impoverished students who cannot afford to travel, while a prompt which consistently uses male pronouns excludes female students.