Here’s another good writing assignment for middle or high school aged students. Feel free to use it; it’s worked for us at WriteAtHome over the years.

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Except for the rain that’s been crashing for hours and the house-shuddering wind that howls through the darkness outside, it’s on ordinary evening at your house. Then comes a knock on the door. You’re not expecting anyone. You look through the peephole, but the condensation from the wet night air has fogged it to uselessness. So you simply open the door and…

The rest is up to you. Write a paper that describes your unexpected guest. What does he look like? How is she dressed? How does he speak? Move? Behave? Focus on revealing and vivid details. Put the reader in your shoes and bring this person to life. He or she can be someone familiar or totally imaginary, creepy, interesting, or hilarious. You decide.

Remember, the idea is not to tell a story, but to describe. Your visitor can and should move, however. He may speak as well. Those things describe by showing, rather than just telling. Feel free to describe the scene as well, but focus on the visitor.

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As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.