The document provides prompts for writing exercises that ask students to reflect on personal experiences with family, relationships, memories, advice and more. It includes questions about first times, talents in the family, favorite activities, and opinions on topics like cosmetic surgery. Students are encouraged to use descriptive words, imagery, and follow-up questions to expand upon their responses.

1. MAKING
STUDENTS WRITE
Edison Santacruz, PUCE
Quito
(with Stephanie Hanson
Senior English Language Fellow)

2. Input/ Output Theory
O Input  L2 data learner receives
O Intake  L2 data learner comprehends
O Output  what learner produces
2

3. MY TEN IMPORTANT
WORDS

4. Your firsts
When was the first FOLLOW UP
time you … QUESTIONS
O kissed somebody of Where?
the opposite sex? Who with?
O rode a bike? What color?
O smoked? How?

5. And lasts
When was the last time you FOLLOW - UP
… QUESTIONS
O got angry?
O cooked?
O fell in love?
O swam in the ocean?

6. FAMILY
O What are the talents in your family?
O What does your family enjoy doing
together?
O What is the best way to punish a child?
O …

7. Offering advice
O I am 15 and I want to have cosmetic
surgery on my nose.
O I’m an only child and I’d like my parents to
stop overprotecting me.
O I am 14 and my sister is always taking my
things.

8. Use images
O My favorite family reunion

9. Photo Album
Remembrances
Look at your photo album and remember:
O What games did you use to play?
O Where did you use to spend your
afternoons?
O Who were your best friends?
O Which event would you like to relive?
O INTERVIEW

10. COMPARE THEM

12. Look at the photograph and
remember some facts

13. MUSIC, HUMOR, NATURE

15. Using Poetry / Imagery

16. Mind food
Choose an option in each question and be ready to
explain your selection.
1. Which provokes more thought? a. A window
b. A door
2. Which takes more space? a. A frown
b. A smile
3. Which costs more? a. Popularity
b. Aloneness
4. Which is heavier? a. A mountain
b. A mistake
5. Which is weaker? a. A spider web
b. A promise

17. HOW WOULD YOU
COMPLETE THIS POEM?
O Do more than belong:
_______________
Do more than care:
_______________
Do more than believe:
_______________
Do more than be fair:
_______________
Do more than forgive:
_______________
Do more than dream:
_______________

18. DO MORE
O Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than believe: practice.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work.
O By William Arthur Ward

19. CROSSOVER
How would you answer these questions?
O What is the sound of war?
O What is the flavor of happiness?
O What is the texture of fear?
O What is the smell of laughter?
O What is the fabric of wishes? Why?

20. No more boring adjectives
O Write about a possession of yours or a
place you find unique. Tell why. Do not
use the adjectives INTERESTING,
GOOD, or NICE.

21. Hi5
O Choose 5 people you know
well
O Describe each one using five
words
O Variation: use one syllable-
words only.

22. Where does it come from?

23. Read and discuss
A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced
by an injured life. It is the tear [that results]
from the injury of the oyster.
Coming to think about it, if we had not been
wounded, if we had not been injured, then
we will not produce the pearl.
O ~ Stephan Hoeller

24. What does it taste like?
O Do you know something that tastes the
same as tamarind?
O Write a paragraph about a bittersweet
thing, feeling, or moment in your life.

25. Useful Websites
O http://grammar.about.com/od/topicsuggestion
s/a/causeff07topics.htm
O http://grammar.about.com/od/topicsuggestion
1/a/250-Topics-For-Familiar-Essays.htm
O http://esldiscussions.com/index.html
O http://www.amazon.com/501-Grammar-
Writing-Questions-Edition/dp/1576854000
O http://thelyricwriter.hubpages.com/hub/100-
Great-Ideas-To-Write-About
O http://www.thewritesource.com/writing_topics/

26. Questions or Comments?
Edison Santacruz
PUCE Quito
esantacruzd@puce.edu.ec
Stephanie Hanson
Senior English Language Fellow
S_L_Hanson@yahoo.com