How Long is An Essay in 7th Grade?
Confused about what’s expected of you for your first essay assignment in seventh grade? All of the frequently asked questions about the format of essays will be addressed in this article.
Students should be honing their fundamental writing abilities by the seventh grade, including brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, and revising. Students in the seventh grade should regularly practice writing a variety of essay types, such as narrative, persuasive, expository, and creative essays, in order to hone these skills.
The following essay prompts offer age-appropriate starting points to help seventh graders flex their writing muscles.
How Long is An Essay in 7th Grade?
There is frequently a word count requirement for essays. However, in the case of an in-class essay test, the general rule is that you should aim to complete an introduction, two TEEL body paragraphs, and a conclusion within the allotted 40 minutes.
How Long Should the Introduction Be?
Your introduction should only be 3-4 sentences. Get straight to the point within your opening sentence. The best openings demonstrate you have clearly planned your arguments.
Take five minutes to consider your argument and consider how you will support it in the body paragraphs before you begin writing. Then, the first sentence just needs to offer your direct response to the question itself.
How Long Should Each Body Paragraph Be?
When writing the body paragraphs, keep the TEEL structure in mind at all times. Each paragraph should have:
- Clearly define your argument in your topic sentence. (1 sentence)
- Give at least one example taken directly from the text. Make sure that you have chosen this quote carefully to best support your claim. Use quotation marks whenever appropriate. (1 sentence)
- Analysis of the quote and elaboration Did the author use a particular method? What can be taken away from this example to support your point of view? (2-3 sentences)
- Link – connect the discussion back to the topic sentence to further emphasize the idea in this paragraph. (1 sentence)
How Long Should the Conclusion Be?
Only 2 or 3 sentences should make up your conclusion. It presents your concluding response to the query. You can provide a summary of the two key concepts you examined in the two body paragraphs and make a final assessment of how you interpreted the question.
The Length of Each Part in an Essay
The Length of Different Kinds of Essays
The Length of Essays in Different Grades
How Long is a Typical Paragraph Required for 7th Grade?
Among teachers, this is a constant point of contention. Based on what our MEAP requires and a progression up the grades, we have established limits at each grade level. These requirements ensure that our students must provide examples and details to strengthen the paragraph’s supporting arguments. Each paragraph written by a student in our fifth grade must contain at least 40 words (although they are always free to write more). 80 words must be learned by the sixth grade.
In 7th grade, students must write 100 words, and in 8th grade, it is 125 words. There are also requirements for sentences. A 5th-grade paragraph must have at least 5 sentences (topic sentence, body/support sentences, and a clincher). 6th graders must have 6 sentences, while 7th and 8th graders must include at least 8 sentences. See How Long is An Essay in 6th Grade, and 8th Grade.
Narrative Essay Writing Prompts
Narrative essays share a personal experience to tell a story, usually to make a point rather than merely to entertain. These questions for narrative essays encourage students to describe and think back on a story that has special meaning for them.
- Embarrassing Pasts – As people age, they occasionally feel ashamed of the toys, television shows, or nicknames they once enjoyed. Give an example of something you once enjoyed but now find embarrassing. Why is this embarrassing right now?
- Bonds of Hardship – Families can become closer when facing challenges. Describe something that your family endured together that strengthened your relationships.
- There’s No Place Like Home – What unique qualities does your hometown possess? What makes this trait unique?
- New Kid in Town – Being new to a town or school can be difficult because you don’t know anyone or exciting because nobody knows you or your past. Tell us about a time when you were the new kid.
- Finders Keepers – Describe a time when you misplaced (or found) something important. How did that experience affect your opinion of the saying, “Finders keepers; losers weepers?”
- Follow the Leader – Tell about a time when you held a leadership position. How did it make you feel? What did the experience teach you?
- April Fools – Write about the best prank you’ve ever played on someone (or had played on you). What made it so funny or clever?
- Bon Appetit – Special meals have the power to evoke strong memories. Write about a specific meal that stands out in your memory. What was so memorable about it?
- Bon Voyage – Family trips and vacations also create lasting memories. Your favorite family vacation memory should be the focus of an essay.
- Batter Up – In your essay, describe a worthwhile lesson you picked up from playing your preferred sport.
- Best Friends Forever – Describe your relationship with your best friend and why it means so much to you.
- The Real Me – What is something about you that you wish your parents, teachers, or coaches truly understood?
- TV – Describe what about your favorite television program you find so compelling or relatable.
Persuasive Essay Writing Prompts
The goal of persuasive essays is to persuade the reader to agree with the writer’s viewpoint or take a particular course of action. Seventh graders are given the tools they need to write effectively about a topic they are passionate about thanks to these essay prompts.
- Outdated Laws – What is one law, family custom, or educational regulation that you believe needs to be altered? Persuade your parents, the government, or the administration of your school to implement the change.
- Bad Ads – Advertising can have a powerful impact on consumers. Which product has been advertised that, in your opinion, shouldn’t have been? Justify the removal of these advertisements from media outlets.
- Puppy Love – You want a pet, but your parents don’t think you need one. What would you say to persuade them to change their minds?
- Lights, Camera – Which book has always captured your attention? Write a paper persuading a filmmaker to make a movie about it.
- Snooze Button – Tweens and teens require more sleep, according to studies. Make a case for a later start time for school in your proposal.
- Body Shop – By using altered images of models, magazines can have a negative impact on their readers’ body image. Persuade the editor of a teen magazine not to publish photos of models that have undergone extensive editing.
- It Can’t Be Over – The network is canceling your favorite television show. Write a paper persuading the station that they are mistaken.
- Curfews – Children under the age of 18 are not permitted in some malls during specific hours without adult supervision. Is this fair or unfair, in your opinion? Defend your position.
- Team Spirit – Should homeschooled students be permitted to participate in athletic teams at public or private schools? Why or why not?
- Smartphones – All of your friends have the latest smartphone, but you only have a “dumb phone.” Should your parents upgrade your phone, or are smartphones for middle school kids a bad idea?
- Bullies – Some dogs, such as pit bulls or Dobermans, are labeled “bully breeds.” Is this moniker accurate or unfair?
- Money Can’t Buy You Love – While some studies have shown that people with higher incomes may be happier, contrary to popular belief, money cannot buy happiness. Do you believe this to be true? Why or why not?
- Ratings – Age restrictions, TV show ratings, and warning labels all exist for music, video games, and movies. Child safety features are available on computers and smartphones. Do adults have too much control over what kids watch and listen to or do these restrictions serve a valuable purpose?
Expository Essay Writing Prompts
Expository essays give factual information or a process description. These questions can act as springboards for the explanation process.
- School’s in Session – Which type of education do you prefer—public, private, or homeschooling? Describe how your decision is advantageous.
- Admiration – Who do you look up to in history or in your own life? Write an essay describing how their character or contributions to their community have earned your respect.
- Global Community – Which location would you choose if you could reside anywhere in the world? Explain why you want to live in your ideal community.
- Peer Problems – Peer pressure and bullying can make life as a middle school student difficult. Explain a time when you were subjected to pressure or bullying and how it affected you.
- Order Up – Your favorite dish is being taught to a friend. Give your friend step-by-step instructions so they can make the dish again.
- Addictions – The effects of drug or alcohol addiction are widespread. Share information about the harm that these substances’ use causes to families and communities.
- Serve Others – Serving in the community is a rewarding experience. Describe a time you volunteered. What did you do and how did it make you feel?
- City or Country Mouse – Do you reside in an urban or rural area? Describe your preferences for living there and why.
- Aspirations – What do you intend to do when you grow up? Explain why you’d choose that career or what you’ll do to prepare for it.
- Point in Time – People occasionally bury time capsules so that future generations can understand the past. What would you include to provide a true portrait of contemporary life?
- Hobbyist – Your friend wants to start your favorite pastime. Explain it to him.
- SOS – In a nearby city, a natural disaster has destroyed residences and commercial buildings. Specify what you can do to assist.
- Wonder Twin Power – Some superheroes can fly or become invisible. What superpower, if any, would you choose to have, and why?
Creative Essay Writing Prompts
Fictional stories are the basis of creative essays. To captivate and entertain the reader, they make use of plot, character, and dialog. These questions will inspire you to write.
- Fan Fic – Your favorite characters from a book, movie, or television program should be the subject of a short story.
- Cats vs. Dogs – Two different species of animals serve as your pets. A day at home alone should be described in a story from their perspective.
- Time Travel – You find a time machine in your backyard. What happens as soon as you enter?
- Dream State – Consider a time when you awoke in the middle of a vivid dream. If the dream wasn’t cut short, what would have happened?
- New Door – Just now, you came across a door that you’ve never seen before. What transpires if you pass through it?
- Secret Keeper – Your best friend has been hiding something from you, you learn. Why didn’t your friend tell you the secret and what is it?
- Fridge Fun – From the viewpoint of a food item in your refrigerator, compose a story.
- Desert Island – You’ve just found an unexplored island. What happens next?
- Fly on the Wall – Despite being unable to hear them, you can see two people talking animatedly. Write a story about what they might be saying.
- Special Delivery – In the mail, you discover a damaged package. About how it got from the sender to you, write a narrative.
- A Mile in My Shoes – In the thrift shop, you choose a pair of shoes and put them on. You find yourself abruptly thrust into someone else’s life. Describe what happens.
- Mission to Mars – Imagine that you’re a pioneer to start a colony on Mars. Describe a typical day on your new planet in your essay.
- Snow Days – You and your family are stranded inside due to snow for a week. There is no electricity or phone service. What are your hobbies?
Conclusion: An Essay in 7th Grade
Hopefully, writing essays now doesn’t seem as intimidating. As always, practicing is the best way to get ready. You’ll see a significant improvement quickly if you use these instructions as practice to structure your next essay. The whole paragraph can be written in fifteen minutes or less (again with practice).