As I prepare for the first day of class on Thursday, I’m considering some new activities.

One new task I’m going to try with my IB Theory of Knowledge classes is to give them this famous story, The Best Teacher I Ever Had (about the “cattywampus”), along with this writing prompt:

What does David Owen think of Mr. Whitson and why? Do you agree with him? To support your opinion, be sure to include specific examples drawn from your own experience, your observations of others, or any of your readings.

I ask them to write write a very short essay — three or four paragraphs — and give them fifteen minutes at the end of the first day to work on it and make it due the following day. I think it should provoke an interesting discussion on Friday….

I’m adding this post to The Best Posts On Writing Instruction, where you’ll find a collecting of writing prompts.