English Fundamentals

Select one of the topics below and write about it for 20 minutes...

Descriptive topics

1. Describe your favorite place in as much detail as possible.
2. What do you do outside of school and work? Describe any hobbies you have, sports you participate in, or other activities you regularly enjoy.
3. If you could invite five people to a dinner party, who would they be? What is each guest like?
4. Describe your favorite fictional character in as much detail as possible.
5. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Describe it and explain why you’d choose it.

Instructions

1. Give directions for getting from one point to another. Explain what landmarks someone might see along the way.
2. Explain how to entertain guests who unexpectedly arrive at your home.

Verb tense practice

1. What’s one thing you could never live without and why?
2. Describe your ideal town or city, why you would want to live there, and what you would do there.
3. Write about a time in the past when you had to make a difficult decision, and explain what you did.
4. Talk about five specific goals you want to accomplish this year, and explain how you are going to accomplish them.
5. Imagine you’re babysitting a child who breaks the kitchen table. Explain to the child how they could have avoided doing this if they had behaved differently.

Practical vocabulary practice

1. Write a review of a new restaurant (either fictional or real) in your area.
2. Describe the best party or large-scale event you’ve ever attended.
3. If you could get one gift for everyone in your family, regardless of the cost, what would you get them and why?
4. Choose a form of transportation (such as cars, trains, boats, planes, or subways) and explain how it has changed people’s lives.
5. Write a pitch for a new blockbuster movie. Explain what will happen in the movie and why it will draw crowds to the theater.

Persuasive writing practice

1. Do you think our society is too dependent on technology like smartphones? Why or why not?
2. Imagine that a big new department store is being built in your hometown. Do you support this development or not?
3. Do you think it’s better for students to have a long summer break or be in a year-round school system with more breaks throughout the year? Explain your position.
4. Should employers set aside time during the day for their employees to exercise? What might be some of the advantages or disadvantages of this?
5. What is your favorite book or movie, and why should people read or watch it?