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Prompt 1 - Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? There is nothing that young people can teach older people. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position. Tutorial Screencast - Model Essay Prompt 2 - Every generation of people is different in important ways. How is your generation different from your parents' generation? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.Tutorial Screencast - Model Essay |
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...more writing prompts for The Next Greatest Generation!
About Me - Tell about several people in your life who are older than you but very influential.
Descriptive - Describe a person from your country who is very influential and under 30 years old. Narrative - Tell about an event where you had a misunderstanding with someone of a different generation. What happened before and during the misunderstanding and how was the misunderstanding resolved. Problem / Solution - You are working at a technology store when a much older customer brings back in a computer insisting that it is broken. It isn't broken. Describe how you would satisfy the customer's concerns? |
Abstract - How can a society foster respect between generations? Use specific examples and details to support your answer.
Hypothesis - Discuss several potential differences between your generation and your children's generation. Support an Opinion - Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Youth today do not work as hard as youth 30 years ago? Use specific details and examples to support your opinion. |
Note for Teachers - The purpose of our 30 minute timed writing prompts is to engage learners in a carefully crafted exercise that will improve fluency of both thought and pen. Quality writing effectively expresses how a person feels, or thinks, in response to any given topic. This doesn't just happen, but requires consistent and meaningful practice (time on task)... the aim and focus of our Daily Writing Prompt website. A guide to constructing a 5 paragraph essay, along with a model passage for students to study and dissect can also be found on this page.
Model Essay - Understanding differences between groups and individuals is an important part of understanding the society that we live in. Regardless of the era, there is a perpetuating idea that those who are older are very different from those that are younger. Some would say that because of this divide between youth and elders the two groups would have very little to gain from each other; especially that, the typically perceived wiser older generation would have little to nothing to learn from those who are less mature and have fewer life experiences. While the two generations might have very different ways of thinking, younger people can teach older people about ways to communicate in the modern world, the modern way of thinking about others and an optimistic outlook on life.
Younger people can teach the older generation about communication. This communication could include technology mediated communication devices like smartphones or computers. This information about communication is essential to staying connected in the modern world and without it old people can become increasingly alienated. Almost any young person is familiar with the challenges of showing a parent or grandparent a new phone or helping them use new technologies like Facebook, Skype or Twitter. Initially there is a lot of confusion and questions but gradually and with a lot of patience, the older person starts to gain excitement and enthusiasm for the new expressive freedom that they are discovering. At times, this excitement might even result in an unwelcome amount of new communication between parents and children; regardless of this consequence, youth are often the best and sometimes the only teachers available for an older learner to learn about these new ways of communicating.
Older people can benefit from the open-mindedness of the younger generation. In most places around the world, younger people are less confined by previous conservatism including greater awareness of intercultural differences, fewer socioeconomic barriers and a general willingness to accept people for who they are. This open mindedness is very different from the world that an older person grew up in and from the time when they formed their perceptions of the world. A personal example of this was my grandmother who I was shocked to hear using racial insensitive labels to identify a group of people. When I asked her why she was choosing to speak in such an offensive way, she was very surprised. She didn't have any idea that the way she was talking about these people was not only outdated, it was morally abrasive in the new culture of tolerance. While it may be difficult for these lessons to stick and some may never be learned, younger people can help the older people to at least be aware of evolving social norms and customs.
Younger people's enthusiasm and optimism can be infectious. Young people are typified as being passionate about themselves and the world they live in; they are also much more likely to be hopeful that the future is bright and full of opportunity. Older people, in contrast, are much more likely to be depressed and pessimistic. As a result, the young people around older people can encourage them to see things in a more positive light and not be so certain that the future is bleak. Studies have shown that the more contact an elderly person has with people who are several generations younger than them the less likely that person is to suffer from depression. Further, they are much less likely to require mood stabilizing medicines. For this reason many elderly care centers actively recruit volunteers from local high schools and colleges. Naturally these students don't bring with them an abundance of skills that they can use to assist in caring for the older residents; however, they have something that can't be taught but is no less beneficial: the belief that tomorrow might not be as bad as we expect it to be.
Persistent optimism, a liberal worldview and modern means of communication are all areas in which young people have a lot to teach the generations that came before them. In addition to the obvious benefits outlined above, both groups can benefit from fostering a mutual interest in the strengths of each other. As parents validate the knowledge that their children have to offer, children will be more reasonable in seeing the insights that their parents have as well. As communities are less divided along artificial boundaries of age, youth will be more mindful of the elderly which can result in deference and service. The elderly will also be more interested in supporting and investing in the lives of those who are younger. As a result the world may learn that age is just a number.
Younger people can teach the older generation about communication. This communication could include technology mediated communication devices like smartphones or computers. This information about communication is essential to staying connected in the modern world and without it old people can become increasingly alienated. Almost any young person is familiar with the challenges of showing a parent or grandparent a new phone or helping them use new technologies like Facebook, Skype or Twitter. Initially there is a lot of confusion and questions but gradually and with a lot of patience, the older person starts to gain excitement and enthusiasm for the new expressive freedom that they are discovering. At times, this excitement might even result in an unwelcome amount of new communication between parents and children; regardless of this consequence, youth are often the best and sometimes the only teachers available for an older learner to learn about these new ways of communicating.
Older people can benefit from the open-mindedness of the younger generation. In most places around the world, younger people are less confined by previous conservatism including greater awareness of intercultural differences, fewer socioeconomic barriers and a general willingness to accept people for who they are. This open mindedness is very different from the world that an older person grew up in and from the time when they formed their perceptions of the world. A personal example of this was my grandmother who I was shocked to hear using racial insensitive labels to identify a group of people. When I asked her why she was choosing to speak in such an offensive way, she was very surprised. She didn't have any idea that the way she was talking about these people was not only outdated, it was morally abrasive in the new culture of tolerance. While it may be difficult for these lessons to stick and some may never be learned, younger people can help the older people to at least be aware of evolving social norms and customs.
Younger people's enthusiasm and optimism can be infectious. Young people are typified as being passionate about themselves and the world they live in; they are also much more likely to be hopeful that the future is bright and full of opportunity. Older people, in contrast, are much more likely to be depressed and pessimistic. As a result, the young people around older people can encourage them to see things in a more positive light and not be so certain that the future is bleak. Studies have shown that the more contact an elderly person has with people who are several generations younger than them the less likely that person is to suffer from depression. Further, they are much less likely to require mood stabilizing medicines. For this reason many elderly care centers actively recruit volunteers from local high schools and colleges. Naturally these students don't bring with them an abundance of skills that they can use to assist in caring for the older residents; however, they have something that can't be taught but is no less beneficial: the belief that tomorrow might not be as bad as we expect it to be.
Persistent optimism, a liberal worldview and modern means of communication are all areas in which young people have a lot to teach the generations that came before them. In addition to the obvious benefits outlined above, both groups can benefit from fostering a mutual interest in the strengths of each other. As parents validate the knowledge that their children have to offer, children will be more reasonable in seeing the insights that their parents have as well. As communities are less divided along artificial boundaries of age, youth will be more mindful of the elderly which can result in deference and service. The elderly will also be more interested in supporting and investing in the lives of those who are younger. As a result the world may learn that age is just a number.
Model Essay - Understanding differences between groups and individuals is an important part of understanding the society that we live in. As society tries to make sense of our complex communities, we often attempt to understand the differences between generations in order to account for misunderstandings and differences in opinion and culture. Naturally one of the simplest forms of this analysis is identifying key differences and similarities between the most prominent social relationship: a parent and her child. While I will admit quite a few similarities to my own parents, my generation is quite different from their generation. Some of the most significant of these differences include their perception of traditional establishments, their identity relative to a geographical place and the depth of their social connections.
My parent's generation is more confident in traditional establishments. These traditional establishments include religion, government and other social systems like the education and health care systems. While they and their peers feel that these organizations will eventually do good or be right, my generation is far less confident. My generation is less likely to be tied to a specific religion or a political party and they are also doubtful that these big systems are inherently good. A local example of this is the local university. Parents push their children to enroll there and are confident that an education from the school will positively influence their child's life. However, once there, the students are frequently demonstrating against the government and the university citing poor outcomes of both. It is clear that these young people are not only dissatisfied they are distrustful of the established systems their parents support.
My parent's generation is more tied to their identity as citizens of a specific place. My parent's identify most fully as citizens of their home town and the area of the country that we are from. Contrastingly, my generation sees themselves as not restricted to any single place but a part of a larger global and mobile community. In my parent's generation, people rarely left their hometown to get an education or for work or even for short trips. Their past, present and future was in the local area. As a result, they fully immersed themselves in the culture and put down roots and deep social connections. Contrastingly, from a very young age, my generation has had access to images and media from all over the world. Not only have we seen the world from afar but many of us have experienced it. While we acknowledge the connection of our past to a particular area, going forward my generation sees endless horizons.
My parent's generation have limited casual social connections beyond those with their family and longtime friends. This social set is not very broad but remains very intimate as it has been together through every stage of life. People from my generation have very few connections as close as many of their parent's relationships but many more casual acquaintances. Consider a hypothetical millennial named Jack. As Jack and his childhood friends grew up, they gradually separated. For college, he went to school several hours from his hometown and made new friends. Jack studied a semester abroad broadening his social network globally. As a result of social media like Facebook, Jack has been able to keep a connection with many of these people; however these casual connections aren't as meaningful in times of trouble or in celebration as the social connections of their parents.
Their intimate social network, their ties to local regions and their trust in established institutions are all part of what makes my parent's generation so different from my own. Understanding these differences doesn't mean that one generation is better or worse than the other. It's natural that as the world changes those that are at different stages of life will be shaped differently. However understanding these differences can help parents and children respond to each other with more understanding and empathy. Cross generational harmony will help ease tensions in communities. Finally striving towards this type of social harmony can extend further as young cultures and nations seek to understand and be understood by older cultures and nations.
My parent's generation is more confident in traditional establishments. These traditional establishments include religion, government and other social systems like the education and health care systems. While they and their peers feel that these organizations will eventually do good or be right, my generation is far less confident. My generation is less likely to be tied to a specific religion or a political party and they are also doubtful that these big systems are inherently good. A local example of this is the local university. Parents push their children to enroll there and are confident that an education from the school will positively influence their child's life. However, once there, the students are frequently demonstrating against the government and the university citing poor outcomes of both. It is clear that these young people are not only dissatisfied they are distrustful of the established systems their parents support.
My parent's generation is more tied to their identity as citizens of a specific place. My parent's identify most fully as citizens of their home town and the area of the country that we are from. Contrastingly, my generation sees themselves as not restricted to any single place but a part of a larger global and mobile community. In my parent's generation, people rarely left their hometown to get an education or for work or even for short trips. Their past, present and future was in the local area. As a result, they fully immersed themselves in the culture and put down roots and deep social connections. Contrastingly, from a very young age, my generation has had access to images and media from all over the world. Not only have we seen the world from afar but many of us have experienced it. While we acknowledge the connection of our past to a particular area, going forward my generation sees endless horizons.
My parent's generation have limited casual social connections beyond those with their family and longtime friends. This social set is not very broad but remains very intimate as it has been together through every stage of life. People from my generation have very few connections as close as many of their parent's relationships but many more casual acquaintances. Consider a hypothetical millennial named Jack. As Jack and his childhood friends grew up, they gradually separated. For college, he went to school several hours from his hometown and made new friends. Jack studied a semester abroad broadening his social network globally. As a result of social media like Facebook, Jack has been able to keep a connection with many of these people; however these casual connections aren't as meaningful in times of trouble or in celebration as the social connections of their parents.
Their intimate social network, their ties to local regions and their trust in established institutions are all part of what makes my parent's generation so different from my own. Understanding these differences doesn't mean that one generation is better or worse than the other. It's natural that as the world changes those that are at different stages of life will be shaped differently. However understanding these differences can help parents and children respond to each other with more understanding and empathy. Cross generational harmony will help ease tensions in communities. Finally striving towards this type of social harmony can extend further as young cultures and nations seek to understand and be understood by older cultures and nations.