These prompts for writing about leadership are designed for middle school and high school students. One thing teachers are tasked with doing is molding young minds to become the leaders of tomorrow. The prompts will make them think not only about what leadership means, but also what it means to be a community member and friend.
→ Writing Prompt 1: When a pack of wolves travel, the older and sicker wolves walk in front. They set the pace for the walk. The next group of wolves are the strongest. They are there to protect the front group from an attack. The absolute last wolf is the leader. Why do you think the leader is the last wolf, rather than the first one?
→ Writing Prompt 2: Everyone of us has succumbed to peer pressure at one time or another in our lives. Write about a time when you did something wrong because you felt pressured to do so. Do you consider the person who convinced you to do this wrong thing a leader, even if he or she led you in a bad way?
→ Writing Prompt 3: Do you think it is more important to be popular or respected by your peers? If you chose popular, do you think that will change when you become an adult?
→ Writing Prompt 4: Why is it so important to some kids to be popular in Middle School?
→ Writing Prompt 5: Someone in your class has been bullying you (calling you names, shoving you against lockers, knocking your books out of your hand,) to the point where you know you have to do something about it. How would you handle it, without resorting to violence or retaliation through something like cyberbullying?
→ Writing Prompt 6: Have you ever been put in a position of leadership? How did you do? Write an essay telling about your experience.
→ Writing Prompt 7: Someone in your class throws a crumpled up paper at the teacher when her back is turned. No one admits to doing it, so the teacher decides that one half of the class (the side of the room from where the paper obviously was thrown) must come in during recess as punishment. You lucked out since you are in the half of the class that does NOT have to miss recess. However, do you think the punishment is fair? If yes, would you think it was fair if you sat on the other side of the classroom?
→ Writing Prompt 8: Your best friend starts making fun of the new kid in school because her clothes are not fashionable and out of style. What do you do or say to your friend? Would you stand up and publicly say something or would you wait until you were alone with your friend and confront her? Or conversely, would you say nothing at all for fear of losing her friendship? Choose an answer and write an essay defending why you would handle the situation that particular way.
→ Writing Prompt 9: You’re in a store with your friend when you see him steal a candy bar and some gum. You think he might get caught and don’t want to get in trouble just by being with him. What would you do?
Prompts for Writing About Leadership Continue
→ Writing Prompt 10: A leader is defined as a person who guides or directs other people. In other words, he is a person who influences people. Yet many celebrities and music makers influence people in ways that are not good and which can actually be harmful. Are they still leaders? Write an essay on what you think the definition of a leader should be.
→ Writing Prompt 11: You may have heard the expression, “he’s a born leader.” Do you think that’s true? Is someone a born leader or was he taught the skills of leadership throughout his life? If you think it’s a skill which can be taught, what types of things can a person do to learn leadership skills? Write an essay giving several examples.
→ Writing Prompt 12: Describe what it takes for a person to earn your respect. It might be a teacher, friend or family member. Pick one person whom you admire for their leadership skills and write about the traits that make them special and how they have influenced you in some way.
→ Writing Prompt 13: You have been chosen to represent your school at an international conventions for students to be held in Paris, France. Therefore, you have been asked to write a letter to the editor of your local paper explaining the prestigious award and what you will be discussing with the other students.
→ Writing Prompt 14: Write a letter to someone in your past that really made a difference in your life. Describe a specific experience that you remember vividly. Thank this person for taking the time to care about you.
→ Writing Prompt 15: There are several qualities one must have to become a great leader. Some of those include the ability to inspire, the ability to delegate, commitment, and confidence. Which of these qualities do you think is the most important one for a leader? Write an essay explaining why you chose that one quality.
→ Writing Prompt 16: Your town hospital is seeking volunteers. Your friend wants to be a volunteer and asks you to write a letter to the Hospital Volunteer Coordinator recommending her for the volunteer job. Write this letter, explaining why your friend is an excellent candidate to be a volunteer.
→ Writing Prompt 17: American author Kenneth Blanchard has said, “The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority.” Give an example of this in your own life by writing about a time you showed leadership by using your influence.
→ Writing Prompt 18: There is a proverb which states, Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Can you think of an example where someone in power became too powerful; so much so that they ended up being corrupt? Write about it.
→ Writing Prompt 19: A home in the community has burned. Tell how you would help the family recover from the loss.
→ Writing Prompt 20: Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say“. This is a fancier way of saying action speaks louder than words. Should a leader lead with their actions or inspire with their words?
→ Writing Prompt 21: If you had ten million dollars to give to charities of your choice, what three would you choose and why?
→ Writing Prompt 22: Write about a patriotic holiday that has special meaning to you and how you would get more people to participate in its celebration.
→ Writing Prompt 23: Write about someone you consider a mentor.
