STAAR Expository Writing Prompts

Organized by Year

Grade 7 Released Test, 2018 Write an essay explaining why it is important to keep the
promises you make.

English I Released Test, 2018 Write an essay explaining why new technology is so
important to teenagers.

Grade 7 Released Test, 2017 Write an essay explaining why setting a goal is important.

English I Released Test, 2017 Write an essay explaining one way that people can work
together to make a difference.

Grade 7 Released Test, 2016* Write an essay explaining whether a positive attitude
helps a person be successful.

English I Released Test, 2016 Write an essay explaining your definition of a true
friendship.

Grade 7 Released Test, 2015 Write an essay explaining the importance of having a good
friend.

English I Released Test, 2015 Write an essay explaining how actions can be more
powerful than words.

Grade 7 Released Test, 2014* Write an essay explaining whether it is important to laugh.

English I Released Test, 2014* Write an essay explaining whether failure can strengthen
a person.

Grade 7 Released Test, 2013 Write an essay explaining the importance of never giving
up.

English I Released Test, 2013 Write an essay explaining why it is sometimes necessary
to take a chance.

English II Released Test, 2013 Write an essay explaining the importance of getting to
know people before forming an opinion about them.

Grade 7 Released Test, 2012* Write an essay explaining whether it is ever okay to break
the rules.

English I Released Test, 2012 Write an essay explaining the effect of one new technology
on people’s lives.

*These prompts have been identified as Expository Writing Prompts by TEA. However, due to the inclusion of the
word “whether” indicating that the writer is expected to express an opinion, they are also cross-listed as
Persuasive Writing Prompts.
Grade 7 Sample Test, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether it is better to work by
yourself or with a group.

English I Sample Test, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether people should be more
concerned about others than about themselves.

English II Sample Test, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether a person must always
be acknowledged in order to have accomplished
something.

*These prompts have been identified as Expository Writing Prompts by TEA. However, due to the inclusion of the
word “whether” indicating that the writer is expected to express an opinion, they are also cross-listed as
Persuasive Writing Prompts.
 STAAR Expository Writing Prompts
Organized by Grade Level

Grade 7
Released Test, 2018 Write an essay explaining why it is important to keep the promises
you make.

Released Test, 2017 Write an essay explaining why setting a goal is important.

Released Test, 2016* Write an essay explaining whether a positive attitude helps a
person be successful.

Released Test, 2015 Write an essay explaining the importance of having a good friend.

Released Test, 2014* Write an essay explaining whether it is important to laugh.

Released Test, 2013 Write an essay explaining the importance of never giving up.

Released Test, 2012* Write an essay explaining whether it is ever okay to break the
rules.

Sample Test, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether it is better to work by yourself
or with a group.

English I
Released Test, 2018 Write an essay explaining why new technology is so important to
teenagers.

Released Test, 2017 Write an essay explaining one way that people can work together
to make a difference.

Released Test, 2016 Write an essay explaining your definition of a true friendship.

Released Test, 2015 Write an essay explaining how actions can be more powerful than
words.

Released Test, 2014* Write an essay explaining whether failure can strengthen a person.

Released Test, 2013 Write an essay explaining why it is sometimes necessary to take a
chance.

*These prompts have been identified as Expository Writing Prompts by TEA. However, due to the inclusion of the
word “whether” indicating that the writer is expected to express an opinion, they are also cross-listed as
Persuasive Writing Prompts.
Released Test, 2012 Write an essay explaining the effect of one new technology on
people’s lives.

Sample Test, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether people should be more
concerned about others than about themselves.

English II
Released Test, 2013 Write an essay explaining the importance of getting to know people
before forming an opinion about them.

Sample Test, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether a person must always be
acknowledged in order to have accomplished something.

*These prompts have been identified as Expository Writing Prompts by TEA. However, due to the inclusion of the
word “whether” indicating that the writer is expected to express an opinion, they are also cross-listed as
Persuasive Writing Prompts.
 STAAR Persuasive Writing Prompts
Organized by Year

English II Released Test, 2018 Write an essay stating your opinion on whether it’s better
to succeed individually or as part of a team.

English II Released Test, 2017 Write an essay stating your opinion on whether a person
can choose to be happy.

Grade 7 Released Test, 2016* Write an essay explaining whether a positive attitude
helps a person be successful.

English II Released Test, 2016 Write an essay stating your opinion on whether maturity
is dependent on a person’s age.

English II Released Test, 2015 Write an essay stating your opinion on whether it’s better
to dream big or to be realistic.

Grade 7 Released Test, 2014* Write an essay explaining whether it is important to laugh.

English I Released Test, 2014* Write an essay explaining whether failure can strengthen
a person.

English II Released Test, 2014 Write an essay stating your position on whether learning
always has a positive effect on a person’s life.

English II Released Test, 2013 Write an essay stating your position on whether it is
better to live in a large city or in a small town.

Grade 7 Released Test, 2012* Write an essay explaining whether it is ever okay to break
the rules.

Grade 7 Sample, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether it is better to work by

yourself or with a group.

English I Sample, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether people should be more
concerned about others than about themselves.

English II Sample, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether a person must always
be acknowledged in order to have accomplished
something.

English II Sample, 2011 Write an essay stating your position on which is more
important: what a person thinks or what a person does.

*These prompts have been identified as Expository Writing Prompts by TEA. However, due to the inclusion of the
word “whether” indicating that the writer is expected to express an opinion, they are also cross-listed as
Persuasive Writing Prompts.
 STAAR Persuasive Writing Prompts
Organized by Grade Level

Grade 7
Released Test, 2016* Write an essay explaining whether a positive attitude helps a
person be successful.

Released Test, 2014* Write an essay explaining whether it is important to laugh.

Released Test, 2012* Write an essay explaining whether it is ever okay to break the
rules.

Sample Test, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether it is better to work by yourself
or with a group.

English I
Released Test, 2014* Write an essay explaining whether failure can strengthen a person.

Sample Test, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether people should be more
concerned about others than about themselves.

English II
Released Test, 2018 Write an essay stating your opinion on whether it’s better to
succeed individually or as part of a team.

Released Test, 2017 Write an essay stating your opinion on whether a person can
choose to be happy.

Released Test, 2016 Write an essay stating your opinion on whether maturity is
dependent on a person’s age.

Released Test, 2015 Write an essay stating your opinion on whether it’s better to dream
big or to be realistic.

Released Test, 2014 Write an essay stating your position on whether learning always
has a positive effect on a person’s life.

Released Test, 2013 Write an essay stating your position on whether it is better to live
in a large city or in a small town.

Sample Test, 2011* Write an essay explaining whether a person must always be
acknowledged in order to have accomplished something.

Sample Test, 2011 Write an essay stating your position on which is more important:
what a person thinks or what a person does.

*These prompts have been identified as Expository Writing Prompts by TEA. However, due to the inclusion of the
word “whether” indicating that the writer is expected to express an opinion, they are also cross-listed as
Persuasive Writing Prompts.
 STAAR Expository Writing Prompts

Grade 7 English I English II

Sample Tests, 2011 Write an essay explaining whether it Write an essay explaining whether Write an essay explaining whether a
is better to work by yourself or with people should be more concerned person must always be
a group.* about others than about acknowledged in order to have
themselves.* accomplished something.*

Released Test, 2012 Write an essay explaining whether it Write an essay explaining the effect
is ever okay to break the rules.* of one new technology on people’s
lives.

Released Tests, 2013 Write an essay explaining the Write an essay explaining why it is Write an essay explaining the
importance of never giving up. sometimes necessary to take a importance of getting to know people
chance. before forming an opinion about
them.

Released Test, 2014 Write an essay explaining whether it Write an essay explaining whether
is important to laugh.* failure can strengthen a person.*

Released Tests, 2015 Write an essay explaining the Write an essay explaining how
importance of having a good friend. actions can be more powerful than
words.

Released Test, 2016 Write an essay explaining whether a Write an essay explaining your
positive attitude helps a person be definition of a true friendship.
successful.*

Released Tests, 2017 Write an essay explaining why Write an essay explaining one way
setting a goal is important. that people can work together to
make a difference.

Released Tests, 2018 Write an essay explaining why it is Write an essay explaining why new
important to keep the promises you technology is so important to
make. teenagers.

*These prompts have been identified as Expository Writing Prompts by TEA. However, due to the inclusion of the word “whether” indicating that the writer
is expected to express an opinion, they are also cross-listed as Persuasive Writing Prompts.
 STAAR Persuasive Writing Prompts

Grade 7 English I English II

Sample Tests, 2011 Write an essay explaining whether it Write an essay explaining whether Write an essay explaining whether a
is better to work by yourself or with people should be more concerned person must always be
a group.* about others than about acknowledged in order to have
themselves.* accomplished something.*

Write an essay stating your position

on which is more important: what a
person thinks or what a person does.

Released Test, 2012 Write an essay explaining whether it

is ever okay to break the rules.*

Released Test, 2013 Write an essay stating your position

on whether it is better to live in a
large city or in a small town.

Released Tests, 2014 Write an essay explaining whether it Write an essay explaining whether Write an essay stating your position
is important to laugh.* failure can strengthen a person.* on whether learning always has a
positive effect on a person’s life.

Released Test, 2015 Write an essay stating your opinion

on whether it’s better to dream big or
to be realistic.

Released Tests, 2016 Write an essay explaining whether a Write an essay stating your opinion
positive attitude helps a person be on whether maturity is dependent on
successful.* a person’s age.

Released Test, 2017 Write an essay stating your opinion

on whether a person can choose to be
happy.

Released Test, 2018 Write an essay stating your opinion

on whether it’s better to succeed
individually or as part of a team.

*These prompts have been identified as Expository Writing Prompts by TEA. However, due to the inclusion of the word “whether” indicating that the writer
is expected to express an opinion, they are also cross-listed as Persuasive Writing Prompts.