essay prompt for wonder

by R.J. Palacio

Wonder essay questions.

In what way does this book embody the common message "Don't judge a book by its cover"?

Throughout the novel, Auggie constantly fights to be known for something other than the way he looks. His face may appear strange and frightening, but on the inside he is no different from any other kid. He is courageous, funny, helpful, and considerate -- a great friend to anyone who gets to know him. Auggie's classmates learn over the course of the novel that they cannot judge him based on the way he looks and eventually get to know the brilliant, kind kid that Auggie really is.

How do Mr. Browne's precepts figure in the book?

Each month, Mr. Browne writes a new precept on the board, with the intention of guiding his students to make good decisions. All of the precepts center around some of this novel's basic themes: kindness, the lasting nature of individual actions, friendship, and knowledge, to name a few. The students at Beecher Prep learn to embody these important messages as they go through the school year, particularly as they relate to Auggie, someone who looks very different from them. When, at the end of the novel, the children write their own precepts over the summer, they show at last that they have truly internalized Mr. Browne's ideas and learned a lot from them.

Why is this novel told from the points of view of multiple characters?

Whenever multiple characters get chances to share their perspectives in a novel, the author clearly wants to emphasize that there are many sides to his or her story. Wonder revolves around Auggie, but there is much more to see even beyond Auggie's own intriguing viewpoint. Via's section gives readers a chance to see what it is like to be in Auggie's family. Jack's section lets us see that Jack is not a terrible person after all, despite what Auggie overheard. Every character brings something new to the novel, helping Palacio weave a complex account from multiple strands and stories.

Why are the bonds that unify the Pullman family so important?

Justin remarks at the end of his section that the universe has blessed Auggie with a loving family. The Pullmans constantly support, encourage, and love one another, even in the face of everything Auggie has to deal with. The members of Auggie's family certainly make mistakes, and just like any close group of relatives they have fights. But at the end of the day, the Pullmans are always there for each other: it is this family dynamic that has nurtured Auggie into the brave, kind person he needs to be in order to face his daily challenges.

How are masks important in Wonder ?

Throughout his childhood, Auggie has loved wearing a mask because a mask allows him to hide his deformity. He wore his astronaut helmet all day, every day when he was younger, and he loves Halloween because he gets to wear a mask and pretend that he is someone else. But as Auggie's dad reminds him at the end of the novel, Auggie may not like his face, but it is who he is; several characters -- particularly members of Auggie's family -- love every part of Auggie, including his face. Masks can hide who you really are, but sometimes it is better to be your true self.

Julian is the only character who does not learn a lesson about kindness at the end of this book. Why did Palacio choose not to have him change?

Julian embodies what Via said to Auggie early on in the book: some kids will always be mean. No matter how likable and friendly Auggie is, there will always be those kids who cannot see past his face. What Auggie learns, though, is that he does not have to keep those people in his life, and that things have a habit of working out for the best. It is important to move past unchangeable, negative opinions and not let them get to you.

What is the difference between the way Auggie views himself and the way other people view him?

Auggie's ultimate wish is to be normal, and he envisions himself as an ordinary kid despite his medical condition. This outlook is different even from how his protective family views him; others think of Auggie as extraordinary, both for having surmounted all of the obstacles that he has faced and for being a kind, compassionate, courageous person despite his struggles. At the end of the book, Auggie accepts that in some ways he is a hero to some people; in his own mind, though, he is just an average kid.

How does Jack change over the course of the novel?

Jack initially spends time with Auggie only because Mr. Tushman asks him to. At the beginning, Jack is extremely conscious of his popularity and social standing at school, and says a lot of things he does not mean in order to be friends with Julian and his crowd. After he loses Auggie's friendship, though, Jack realizes where his priorities should lie. The moment when he punches Julian is a turning point for Jack; he establishes his allegiance at last, and rises above the petty fighting that Julian tries to start. Instead, Jack wants to do the right thing and be kind.

In what ways is the Beecher Prep middle school a microcosm of the outside world?

Though they are only children, the students at Beecher Prep have to face many of the challenges that adults face, too. They have to adapt to a new situation -- in this case, a new student who looks dramatically different -- and must learn to show kindness and inclusion. At Beecher Prep, some of the rumors about who is dating whom and who is friends with whom get blown out of proportion, but in the end, the students learn some important, adult lessons during their time at school.

Why is Justin an important character?

Since Wonder is primarily about Auggie, it at first seems strange to include the perspective of Via's boyfriend. But Justin serves two important purposes. First, he gives us an outside perspective on the Pullman family, remarking on their closeness the way only someone meeting them for the first time can. Second, he shifts some of the focus to Via and gives her plenty of attention, while Via herself sometimes feels neglected by her own family.

Wonder Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Wonder is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What writing assignment did Mr. Browne give the class?

Mr. Browne says that he will give the class a new precept every month. For the month of September, he tells them to consider: “If you have the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

What are the facts that are more significative for you?

This question calls for your opinion... your reflection on the book. I particularly enjoyed Summer's sections, as they give us a glimpse into what it's like not to be in Auggie's situation, but to learn what it's like for the people closest to...

Why does Justin greet the different members of the family in four different ways? from wonder

This is one of the shorter sections, but Justin's segments are extremely important because they give us our first substantial look at Auggie's family from the outside. Summer and Jack only briefly interacted with the rest of Auggie's family, but...

Study Guide for Wonder

Wonder study guide contains a biography of R.J. Palacio, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Wonder
• Wonder Summary
• Wonder Video
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Wonder

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Wonder
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Wonder Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Wonder

• Introduction

Wonder Lessons

10 Discussion Questions for Wonder

Good discussion is the heart of any English class, and Wonder by R.J. Palacio provides so much rich material for students to reflect on and discuss.

The questions below can be used to initiate discussion in small groups, or as a whole class. Often it can be helpful to start with small groups, and then have them come together for a larger discussion.

You can also use them as writing prompts or paragraph questions.

Here are ten discussion questions for Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

Wonder Discussion Questions

• How does August’s facial difference impact his relationships with others and his perception of himself?
• Discuss the theme of kindness and empathy in the novel. How do the characters respond to August and how do their actions impact him?
• How do August’s experiences at Beecher Prep School differ from his experiences at his previous school?
• Discuss the role of family in the novel. How do August’s parents and siblings support and challenge him?
• How do the characters’ perceptions of August change throughout the novel?
• Discuss the theme of bullying in the novel. How do August and the other characters deal with bullying and its effects on them?
• How does the novel address the themes of appearance and acceptance?
• Discuss the role of imagination and creativity in the novel. How do August and the other characters use their imaginations to cope with challenges and obstacles?
• How does the novel portray the importance of friendship and the challenges of making and maintaining friendships?
• Discuss the ending of the novel. How does August’s journey end and what does this reveal about the themes of the novel?

Full Unit Plan

These discussion questions are a great place to start, but if you want everything you need to teach Wonder in one download, check out this amazing full unit plan .

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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Wonder by r. j. palacio.

73 comments:

This is just too cool! Thank you for sharing your plan in its entirety. I think read-alouds in later grades are great, and not done enough. Can't wait to read this when it comes into my collection!

I'm glad you like the information. You won't be disappointed with the book.

Bookmarked your post! I definitely will use your visual guide next year when I read WONDER to my class.

Amy, you could always start your read aloud now. Just sayin'.

Thank you so much for sharing-I will begin reading Wonder to my class next week-can't wait

It's a great time and a great experience reading it aloud to students. Enjoy!

About how long did it take for the read aloud--how many minutes a day for how many days?

The read aloud took all of March, right up until spring break. Between reading, discussing, watching videos, viewing the website, and a few short activities, we spent about 45-60 minutes a day. It turned into a full-blown unit, more than just a read aloud.

Thank you so much, our summer school group is going to use your site. Thanks!

Great to hear. Hope summer school goes great for you and the students.

Thanks for sharing your read aloud presentation! I linked it to my blog (teacherwillrunforbooks.blogspot.com) it's just too awesome to not share :) Happy Teaching & Reading!

Thanks for sharing the resource. Glad you found it helpful.

Thank you so much for sharing. Wonderful ideas and resources.

Brian, this is a great unit. I'm in the middle of reading this and cannot put it down. Thank you so much for sharing your hard work with the rest of us teachers.

Barbara and Karen, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts, but thanks especially for using such an incredible book with young readers.

Wow! This is amazing!! I loved Wonder and received a grant this year to order copies for my students. I am so excited and when I cam across your site I was ecstatic. You have done a fantastic job putting this together. Thank you so much for sharing!!

Wow. This is tremendous. I can't wait to utilize this tomorrow for our first day of school. I am certain this will be an invaluable resource. Thank you!

This is terrific, thank you so much! I started sharing the book with my sixth graders today. 8-)

I wasn't planning to read Wonder until November, but I was showing my kids the book trailer and they were so excited that I started it today. These resources are great!

Thank you so much! I read Wonder over the summer, and am anxious to start the read aloud with my fifth grade class later this week. Your site is extremely helpful!

You have done such a wonderful job with this site. I am an elementary counselor and will be doing a book study with Wonder in my 5th grade classes as part of my guidance lessons. I am so happy to have found your site. Thank you!

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Thank you so much for this fantastic resource. My fifth grade class just finished reading the book together. Prior to sending them off to read independently, we would preview each chapter on our promethean board. You made the book exponentially more interesting than anything I would have come up with. Now they are asking for the next book but, honestly, I don't know if I'm going to be able to find something to top Wonder. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

King, glad you enjoyed using the resources. For your next book, maybe give your class something completely different. Something like H.I.V.E. or The Hero's Guide to Saving your Kingdom or short stories from Guys Read or silly nonfiction like Uncle John's Bathroom Readers for Kids or ... well, you get the picture. Something were kids won't really be able to compare to Wonder. Let me know what you decide.

This is fantastic. It really brings the book to life, which many kids need to make connections. I can't imagine the investment of time you made to gather the resources for your students, and thankfully ours, too.

Thank you so much for this. Wonder is one of the best books I've ever read, especially with the 6th graders...they love it! This really was a great opener everyday. To give them some more understanding and some visuals.

THANK YOU! I used all your Wonder resources with my fifth graders as we read the book. And while your resources greatly improved the comprehension of my kids with Asperger's syndrome or language processing disorders, they also enhanced the comprehension of all my kids. So many light-bulb moments, thanks to you, Brian. I just really appreciate all your time, effort, and resourcefulness to create this reference tool. Finally, Wonder itself is a call to all of us to be better human beings, and as such, I wanted my kids to deeply reflect on its messages, so they are currently writing five-paragraph essays about it. So, in your spirit of sharing, here are my prompts (which can likely be improved on), incase you’re interested. Thanks again! Wonder Essay Prompts What was the author’s purpose for writing Wonder? In other words, what important messages (or lessons) do you think the author hopes readers will learn? (Choose three.) A precept is a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought. An inscription on an Egyptian tomb, “Your deeds are your monuments,” is an excellent example of a precept. Choose three characters from the book who show just how true this precept is. August received the Henry Ward Beecher medal because, “He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts.” Why was Auggie so deserving of this award? (Choose three reasons.)

I can't thank you enough for this wonderful resource. My class gets so excited when they see my turning on the computer and picking up Wonder to read. The links to the songs are so great too. What a big hit and great way to share a novel with kids. Love it!

Sorry if this already posted. Is this okay to read to fourth graders? THanks and thnaks for your resources.

TeacherMom, Yes, I'd say it's appropriate for fourth grade. The main characters in the book are in fifth grade. Brian

I am an ESL teacher in high school. I teach in a middle/high school combine of 600 ESL students ONLY. We are reading WONDER as a school wide read aloud over the PA every morning. I will definitely be using your plan with the rest of the book as well as using it as a review with my high school ESL English students. Thank-you.

I'm using this book in a class with several ESL students, also. Your Web site is AMAZING. Thank you so much. This really helps build schema.

Reading to my students, using your page....they are in love and ask why I haven't done this for ALL the books I have read to them. ha! I usually look up pictures for things to show them, but this is perfect. I plan on doing this for a couple other books this summer. Thank you!!

This is SO helpful! Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this!

This is brilliant! I'm going to be making use of some of these for a year seven (ages 11-12) scheme of work that I'm writing for September.

I read this last year to my fifth graders and most of them told me it changed them in a good way. Your website is great! I'm so excited to use it next year when I read it again. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this great resource! I teach 5th grade (for the first time) this year and I plan on using this book as our read aloud for the first unit which is Kindness. I love the principal's message to the kids at the end of the book. I will be using this website a lot for it. Thanks, again!

Teaching reading for the first time in a while to 5th graders. I read this over summer and knew that this was the book I must start with. Thanks for putting these resources together, it will be wonderful to use with my students. Consider this a standing ovation from me.

Thank you for the wonderful resource. Our middle school is doing a read aloud for grades 5-8 with Wonderand the kids are loving it. We are stopping to explain these things, but having them ready to go with pics and descriptions is incredible! I can't thank you enough!

I've been searching for a book with many examples of allusions. After reading your lesson, I think I've found it. This is the first I've heard about the book, so I haven't read it yet. Would you say this is a good resource?

I'm guessing you are referring to the Star Wars references. Yes, there are some allusions - like having a private guard - but most are pretty direct references, most with explanations. Brian

I can only say that I am so thankful to have found this amazing resource that you have created. I was reading the book on my own (I'm a sucker for good young adult literature) and was so moved by it that I have immediate plans to work this into my 7th grade ELA curriculum. Thank you for your work! This will truly supplement my lessons and will allow my students to visualize more aspects of the text. Kudos to all of your time and effort!

Thanks from 6W in Sydney, Australia.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am doing a book club with a 5th grade class (I'm a gifted resource teacher). We offered it as an optional activity- no extra credit, no grades, just reading. We though we might have a handful of kids interested. My principal purchased 10 copies. I never told them what it was about- just that is was AWESOME! Well, I must be quite the salesman, because 19 of her 21 kids wanted to read it. My principal purchased 10 more. Some kids got it on their eReader. All of them are now reading it. They voted to read rather than play a math game when I passed out the books! Thanks for this awesome resource. I will be linking it to our Edmodo discussions.

"They voted to read rather than play a math game." This might be the highlight of my day so far. Thanks for sharing.

wow!! Thanks a lot for sharing all this!!! I´ve been reading this book to my 5th graders and they really enjoy it, it´s hard to stop reading it and they love the group discussion!!!

I'm excited to start this with my year 6/7 class next week when school goes back. I've been reading Wonder in the holidays and am franticly writing my own notes to accompany yours. Thank you so much for sharing your brilliant ideas, questions and links. Thanks from Balaklava PS in Mid-North South Australia :)

I found a link to this on Pinterest and am so glad I clicked on it! Do you think I could use Wonder with my 6th grade class this year? I'm a new teacher and am not yet sure what to expect. I don't want it to be too easy for the students to read, but the content is just outstanding and so meaningful. What do you think? Thanks!

I don't think there will be any problem reading Wonder with sixth grade students. If you are planning to do any full class novel, remember it's going to be easy for some, difficult for some, and just right for the rest. And even if it ends up being easy text for the majority, students can then put more energy into digesting the content rather than decoding it. Brian

I have read this book 3 times and I'm starting my fourth and it NEVER gets old.😃

great book!!!

Thanks for sharing this book! I heard you read from it at the Lutheran Educators' Conference in Wisconsin, and so when I saw that book at Barnes and Noble, I decided to buy it. There was also a girl (3rd grade) that was looking at it with her mom. She was telling her mom about the book, so I asked her if she would recommend it to 6th graders, and she said "yes". I started reading it to my students in mid-December, and they are enjoying it. In discussing adages like "Don't judge a book by its cover", I pulled out the book and showed them the cover and asked how many of them would read it based on the cover, and none of them said that they would. Then I asked them, now that they heard part of it, and I decided to stop reading it, how many of them would want to finish reading it, and most of them said that they would.

I'm starting this book with my kids on Tuesday, I love reading aloud. how long do you read aloud for? I'm also thinking of starting a partner read. I love your blog! TY

To Anonymous, two comments above, I hope you chose to continue reading the book aloud even though most kids said they'd read it on their own. A shared book can be a powerful tool to use the rest of the year beyond just the lessons in the book itself. To Cristina, I like to read aloud for at least 15 minutes, but I also like to stop at natural breaks in the text, like chapters. Rarely will I cut short the 15 minutes, but it's not uncommon to extend it beyond the allotted time.

Check out the wiki for Wonder at http://rj-palacios-wonder.wikia.com/wiki/Wonder_Wiki. Follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/WonderWikia.

thanks for sharing

Do you think this book would be appropriate to read aloud to 3rd and 4th graders? I teach a split class and most of them are pretty advanced readers. Thanks!

Hi Brian! My name is Ana from Buenos Aires, Argentina....i have started reading Wonder because i wanted to present something touching to my students, somehting in which they can see them as part of the story. i teach english in public schools, 2 periods a week to courses from 2nd to 5th year ( this is secondary school for us, it starts in 1st and it finishes in 6th )and as i was saying....we only have 2 periods of 60 minutes each week...so it´s kind of hard, but as i am curious and i know we teachers can change the world ( together with kids of course) as soon as i finish my reading, i´ll be sharing it with my students. I love the book and....i love all the things you prepared for working with it. thanks in advance and....i´ll let you know how things are going here in the south hemisphere ;) Ana

Good evening Brian, I was wondering if this is a good summer read for my daughter who will be in the 5th grade in the fall? Have you come across any discussion questions?

Hi there, my daughter has just finished reading this with her school - she's in Year 4 and loved it. I have ordered a copy to read to my Year 3s. Is it going too be too old for them? Any thoughts on the appropriateness or lack of would be really appreciated.

Thank you so much for these awesome resources. My principal purchased each homeroom teacher a copy of the book as a read aloud every morning. I can't wait to share this resource. Ms. Evans

Nery Cano, yes, Wonder would be a great summer read, and yes, I realize it is the end of summer. Wonder also would be a spectacular early fall read as well as an inspiring winter read and an engaging read in the spring. Nicole, I think it would be appropriate as a read aloud for year 3's. Brian

I am thinking about teaching this for my 6th graders this year. How long would you say it takes to get through the novel?

Give yourself a good chunk of time each day - I'd say 20 minutes minimum for the read aloud - and plan on 4 weeks. It will take less than that if all you did was read the story aloud, but the discussion is well worth the time.

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Hi! I wanted to use this for my distance learning read aloud. Do you use these before or after reading the sections of the book? Thank you.

It depends, really. If it's information that would be useful to understand before reading, I'll do it before. Sometimes I use the images to wrap up a day's read aloud and guide the discussion. Sometimes I just scroll through the images as I read. I tried to be careful that none of the references or comments gave away plot points, so doing them before each day should be fine.

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Wonder Essay Topics & Writing Assignments

Essay Topic 1

August describes himself as extraordinary. Explain why August is an ordinary and an extraordinary kid.

Essay Topic 2

August does have friends, even though he has never been to school. Who are August friends and why don't they treat him differently like strangers or casual acquaintances do?

Essay Topic 3

The idiom "like a lamb to the slaughter" describes what August and his father believe his experiences will be at middle school. In what way is and isn't August like a lamb about to be slaughtered when he goes to school?

Essay Topic 4

Summer makes a choice to sit with August. Why does Summer sit with August at first, and how do her motives for being with him change?

Essay Topic 5

Summer turns down an opportunity to become a part of the popular group. What are Summer's reasons for not wanting to be a part of the popular...

(read more Essay Topics)

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A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Compare Auggie, Jack Will , and Julian . How do they meet and interact? How do they change by the novel’s end?

Mr. Browne gives his students monthly precepts. Choose two of his precepts and write your own ideas about what these precepts mean.

Bullying is a troubling theme in the narrative . How does Auggie suffer from bullying, and how does he face it? Provide examples of different scenarios.

Related Titles

By R. J. Palacio

Auggie & Me

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Juvenile Literature

Realistic Fiction (Middle Grade)

YA & Middle-Grade Books on Bullying

In  Wonder , R.J. Palacio perfectly captures the voice of young learners as they navigate their relationships with a classmate with a severe disability. For this reason, it’s become a staple in classrooms and is widely read among students and teachers. The heartwarming story of Auggie helps students learn about bullying, acceptance, peer pressure, and courage, and is a testament to how literature can change the world.

After your students finish  Wonder , you’ll definitely want to build on the momentum of their reading and encourage them to talk and write about what they just read in a way that furthers their understanding of the book’s themes. But what questions should you ask to encourage reflection? Here are five prompts to get your students talking and writing:

1.  Compare and Contrast

How would you describe Auggie as a person in the first few chapters of the book? What about the final few chapters?

2.  Draw Conclusions

Mr. Brown's first precept was:  When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.  Was there a difference between the way Summer was kind and the way Jack was kind to Auggie? Explain.

3.  Make an Inference

Why do you think Via did not tell her parents about the play?

4.  Learn About Character Development

Each of the characters in the story matures in certain ways. How do Auggie's problems help this happen?

5.  Promote Critical Thinking

Is a person's identity based on how they look or is it based on how they live? Explain your choice.

During the course of discussion and student writing, remind students to support their responses with specific details and evidence from the story. Additionally, to engage students before writing, consider having students role-play characters or create precept posters on perseverance, courage, and strength of character.

Wonder Movie: A Miracle of Family Essay (Movie Review)

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Family Description

Family roles, central challenge, changes in roles, parenting blueprint.

This paper will examine the family structure in the movie Wonder . The film narrates a story of a ten-year-old boy named August, or Auggie, Pullman, a child with a genetic disorder that causes him to have visible facial deformities. As he starts school for the first time, he struggles with making friends and bullying. The film focuses on the reality of living with a disability and the role of family.

The Pullman family consists of a mother, father, older sister called Olivia (Via), and the youngest son, August. Both parents provide support and care for their children, perhaps with more attention to the younger offspring. August is a boy with a genetic condition that, nonetheless, does not stop him from being genuine, kind, and courageous. His sister, Via, is an older sibling who feels alienated from the rest of the family.

August bears the hero’s role, which can be considered untraditional, given his visible condition. As a hero, he overcompensates his disability with academic achievements, such as being the smartest pupil in a science class ( Wonder ). Additionally, he projects the family image on himself, claiming that his sister does not want the classmates to see him, implying that it is his responsibility to represent the family and appear presentable.

In her turn, the mother can be considered a dominant rescuer, which is untraditional in a patriarchal society. Her role is prominent in how she treats August as her priority – she abandons her passion for becoming an illustrator to homeschool him ( Wonder ). In addition, the mother always acts as the peacemaker: during the dinner on the first day of school, she is the one to start the conversation to comfort others.

The father acts as the mediator, which appears to be a traditional yet non-dominative role in the structure. For example, he secretly hides the helmet that Auggie has been using as a shield from the real world, thus urging the son for a necessary transition towards social integration ( Wonder ). He also mediates the conflict by reaching out to Via, the forgotten child. When the mother is comforting Auggie, the father is the only one who checks up on the older daughter.

It can be argued that Via is the lost child since she is the most isolated and distant family member, which can be considered non-traditional for a relatively functional family. For example, she separates her family and school personality, claiming that she is a “single child” when speaking with new acquaintances ( Wonder 29:40-29:49). Furthermore, even when Via tries to get close to her mother by talking about a lost friend, the attention is quickly shifted to her brother.

The main challenge that affects and, ultimately, shapes the family dynamics is the protagonist’s facial deformity. It moves the focus of the family’s attention from the collective efforts to grow and develop as personalities to sustaining August’s quality of life. It makes the parents overprotective of the son; for example, the dad claims that allowing August to go to school is “leading the sheep to the slaughter” ( Wonder 3:25-3:30). The mother also gives up her dissertation and dedicates all of her life to her son.

The course of the movie changed the roles of all the characters. August remains the hero but adopts the needed attitude and skills to navigate the hostile social landscape. Because the parental attention was diverted from Via to August, the older sister distances herself from the family and becomes the lost child to lessen her parents’ burden. However, as the movie unfolds, Via transforms into the nurturer and provides the brother with much-needed advice. Although the dad was originally the clown or mascot of the family due to his constant humor, he transitions into the mediator as he provides gentle parental nudges to help August grow. Lastly, the mother adopts the nurturing role to substitute her rescuing tendencies – instead of overprotecting August, she learns to let him explore.

The parents display some characteristics of authoritative parenting by aiming for a balance between rules and freedom. One example is how the mother approaches the conflict with August on the first day of school. When the boy abruptly leaves the dinner table in the heat of the argument, she gently reminds him that “it is no way to leave the dinner table” ( Wonder 23:36-23:39). Instead of punishing him for not conforming, the mother seeks the source of such behavior and tries to resolve it. Another example would be Via’s lateness from school: although the parent expected her to be home earlier, she accepts the excuse since the mother understands the need to reconnect with the passed grandmother.

Another factor of the parenting blueprint is the free-range style, which allows children to explore their talents and skills in a free environment with little supervision. Firstly, it can be seen in the fact that the parents encourage August to attend school. Instead of continuous involvement to aid Auggie’s integration, the parents let their child connect to peers independently. Secondly, through free-range parenting, they allowed Via to navigate her romantic life. The mother and father abstain from controlling her connections and allow an uninterrupted exploration of the relationship.

The movie profoundly changed my understanding of the family systems theory. When thinking about dysfunctional families, one tends to picture a drinking mother or a sibling with an addiction problem. However, the movie has shown that some unhealthy family structures can be adopted even in a seemingly perfect family. For example, the central conflict is a son’s condition that makes him socially unaccepted. This biological factor did not only influence his psyche but also determined the way family dynamics operated, which provided me with evidence of the complex nature of the family conflict. However, another aspect that changed my understanding of the theory was the roles’ fluidity, which indicates a healthy development. More specifically, Via adopted duties such as supporting August with advice and relating to the family more. This showed me that even when faced with challenges, family structures can unconsciously resolve the issue by assigning roles.

I believe that the cultural depiction of the family system was accurate. Firstly, the fact that the family leader is the mother reinforces the common notion of women being more family-oriented. For example, children always seek their parental advice and support. Secondly, giving up a career for the family is also a common cultural peculiarity that the movie managed to depict, making it a genuine portrayal of disability in a family setting.

While watching the movie, I was able to relate to some of the characters’ experiences. To elaborate, I have a younger sister who is not as academically gifted and socially adapted as I was at her age. As a result, parents focused all of their attention on her, leaving me with the role of the lost child. Like Via, I distanced myself from the family by not letting them know about my problems to free them of additional concerns. However, I have also experienced the positive influence of free-range parenting since my father allowed me to choose any extracurriculars I liked, enabling me to find passions in a safe environment. Similar to August, I struggled while trying different sports, which eventually led me to find a hobby of art that makes me feel welcomed and gifted.

Wonder. Directed by Stephen Chbosky, performance by Jacob Tremblay, Lionsgate, 2017.

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R. J. Palacio

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August introduces himself to the reader. He's ten years old, and though he feels normal, he wishes he had a "normal" face. He declines to describe what his face looks like, insisting that it's probably worse than whatever the reader is imagining. August has been homeschooled his entire life because he's had so many surgeries. However, one day in the spring, August overhears Mom and Dad talking about sending August to middle school. August is upset and doesn't want to go, but he agrees to try. When August and Mom tour Beecher Prep, the principal, Mr. Tushman , introduces August to three students. August is terrified—he hates meeting kids his own age because they often are purposefully mean. Mr. Tushman introduces August to Jack , Charlotte , and Julian and then sends the kids to look around the school. Charlotte and Jack are nice, but Julian is rude and tries to make August feel bad and unwelcome. After August and Mom get home, August tells her about some of Julian’s mean comments. She's horrified and doesn't want August to go to school, but August and Dad insist that he should still try.

Mom, Dad, and August's older sister, Via , walk him to school on his first day. Jack sits next to August in all their classes. Julian is still mean to August, though the teachers don't notice. At lunch, August sits alone until a girl named Summer sits down with him. After school, August tells Mom that his day was okay, which surprises her. August struggles in school all through September, especially when he realizes that kids are scared to touch him. However, he and Jack become good friends.

For Halloween, August decides to go as Boba Fett from Star Wars . Halloween is his favorite holiday because he gets to wear a mask and feel like a normal kid. On Halloween morning, however, he decides to wear last year’s Bleeding Scream costume to school instead. August feels amazing in his costume until he gets to homeroom. There, he overhears Jack telling Julian that if he were August, he'd kill himself. Since August’s classmates are still anticipating him arriving as Boba Fett, no one knows that he is the one in the Bleeding Scream costume, listening to every word of the mean conversation. August runs out crying, goes home, and skips school the next day.

Via takes over the narration and explains that in her family, August is the center of the universe. She doesn't ask for much from her parents because she knows that August needs the attention more. Via has always been protective of August, but she didn't realize how much she wants to be normal until a month-long visit with Grans a few years ago. On that visit, Grans told Via that she was looking out for her, since August has enough angels looking out for him. Grans died two months later.

Via says that she loved middle school because she had her two best friends, Miranda and Ella , and not many kids knew about August. Miranda was always nice to August and even bought him his space helmet that he wore constantly until it disappeared. Now that the girls are in high school, Miranda is very different. She's changed her hair and clothes and treats Via like she's not a real friend. On the first day of school, Via is so hurt she takes the subway home alone rather than let Miranda's mom drive her. Via eventually makes some new friends and develops a crush on a boy named Justin .

Grans died the night before Halloween, so Via feels very sad on Halloween morning. Dad is in a bad mood and makes Via cry, so Mom suggests that she and Via stay home. However, their morning at home has barely begun when Mom gets a call from Beecher Prep that August is sick and needs to be picked up. Via is shocked later when August insists he's too sick to go trick-or-treating. Finally, he confides in her about what Jack said. Over the weekend, Via convinces August that he needs to go back to school.

Summer begins to narrate and says that she sat with August on the first day of school because she felt bad for him, but she discovered quickly that he's a lot of fun. He's still interested in playing games like foursquare instead of "hanging out" and talking about crushes. After a few weeks, a classmate tells Summer about a game the class is playing called the Plague , which states that kids have thirty seconds to wash their hands after touching August or they catch the Plague. This is why nobody will play with August and Summer.

Savanna , the most popular girl in school, invites Summer to a Halloween party. At the party, Summer understands immediately that Savanna invited her to intimidate her and try to get her to stop spending time with August, so Summer calls her mom to come pick her up. At lunch on Monday, August tells her what Jack said on Halloween but swears her to secrecy. Later that month, Jack approaches Summer and asks why August is ignoring him. Summer just tells him, "Bleeding Scream."

Jack jumps back to the month of August when his mom got a call from Mr. Tushman, asking if Jack would be willing to show August around the school. Jack refused, which made Jack's mom very mad. Jack recalls the first time he saw August—he jumped and made a surprised noise. His babysitter, Veronica , whisked Jack and his little brother, Jamie , away before they could make the situation worse. She told Jack that he doesn't need to be actively mean to hurt someone's feelings. When he hears Jamie being mean to August, Jack thinks about what Veronica told him and changes his mind about meeting August. After a few weeks of school, Jack realizes that August is actually really cool: he lets Jack cheat off his homework, and he's funny. He's perplexed when August starts icing him out after Halloween, and has no idea what Summer's "Bleeding Scream" comment means. Right before winter break, however, Jack realizes what she meant. He feels sick that August heard him saying such mean things, when he only wanted to impress Julian.

When Julian taunts Jack a little later, Jack punches him. Mr. Tushman suspends Jack. Julian's mom writes Mr. Tushman and asks that August not be allowed at school, as she thinks it's too much to ask to ask "regular" kids to be nice to him. Mr. Tushman refutes this. Jack also apologizes to August over text, and August forgives him. They return to school in January to discover that none of their classmates will talk to them. Charlotte tells Jack that Julian has begun a war, which mostly entails ignoring Jack until he decides to drop August.

The narration switches to Justin, Via's boyfriend. He meets August the first time he goes over to Via's house, and he tries not to be shocked by August. Mr. Davenport , the theater director, casts Justin in the leading role of Our Town , the spring show, and Miranda gets the female lead. One afternoon, Mom asks Justin to walk Jack to the bus. Justin thinks that Jack is too small to be running around by himself, and vows to be more protective when he has kids one day. He watches Julian, Miles , and Henry bully Jack, and after Jack gets on the bus, he tells them to leave Jack alone. The next day at rehearsal, Justin learns that Miranda and Via used to be good friends. He's shocked, but when he brings it up to Via, she cries and admits that she hasn't told her parents about the play because she doesn't want them to bring August. She loves being at a school where nobody knows about him.

August resumes his narration in February, which is the worst month for the war. Julian leaves mean notes in August's locker, but August refuses to report them. By March, kids start to lose interest, and former bullies like Amos even start standing up to Julian. August gets hearing aids about this time, something that horrified him until he realized how well he could hear with them. After spring break, Mom and Via fight when Mom finds out that Via didn't tell her about Our Town . At dinner, when August asks if they'll all go, Mom tries to tell him it won't be interesting. August realizes they're trying to exclude him and yells at her to not treat him like a baby. He runs to his room and hides until Via bursts in, yelling that he needs to come say goodbye to their dog, Daisy —she's very sick and has to be put down. That night, August watches his family members grieve and then puts himself to bed instead of waiting to be tucked in. A few days later, August sits with Mom and Dad in the audience to see Our Town . They're all shocked when Via, who was cast as an understudy, performs as the female lead instead of Miranda.

Miranda explains that at summer camp, she started talking about August as though he was her own brother, which boosted her popularity immensely. She also got a makeover at camp and looked like a popular girl by the time school started. She and Via stopped being friends, but she signed up for theater to be in the same class with her. On the play’s opening night, Miranda's parents don’t show up, so she feigns illness and allows Via to perform since her whole family is there. Afterwards, she finds August and his parents, and they invite her to dinner. She feels happier than she has in a long time.

August explains that all the fifth graders go on a nature retreat for two nights at the end of the year. August loves the first two days of the nature retreat, especially because Julian decided not to attend. On the final night, Beecher Prep joins two other schools at an outdoor movie. At one point, Jack and August run into a group of bullies from another school. The bullies taunt August and don't even seem deterred when Amos, Miles, and Henry try to stand up for August and Jack. After a brief but traumatizing fight, Amos, Miles, and Henry lead August and Jack far away to escape. August realizes that he lost his hearing aids in the tussle and cries, but the boys comfort him kindly and then walk him back to the movie.

The next day, after Mom picks August up, he asks her if he'll always have to deal with jerks. She insists that there are more good people than bad in the world. A few days before school gets out, Mr. Tushman calls August to the office to explain that he found the bullies, though August refuses to press charges.

The day of the fifth grade graduation ceremony. On the way there, Dad admits that he threw away August's space helmet. August is livid, but soon forgives his dad. At the ceremony, Mr. Tushman gives a speech about the importance of kindness and then presents awards. August receives the Henry Ward Beecher Medal for bravery and kindness and revels in his standing ovation. Afterwards, he lets his parents and his friends' parents take photos of him and all his classmates. On the walk home, August thanks Mom for making him go to school.

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A POV Writing Unit With R. J. Palacio’s Book Wonder

Written by guest blogger Daniela Garay

Are you looking for a fun and meaningful narrative writing unit for your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students? Here it is!

Language arts teachers strive for a stronger cross-curricular relationship between reading and writing that interconnects both subjects more purposefully and meaningfully. This point of view writing unit does just that!

Introducing the POV Writing Unit

After finishing reading Wonder,  students will be introduced to the writing unit prompt and begin planning.

First, students will think of at least two possible character choices independently or in small groups.  This should only take one writing class period, depending on how long your class periods are. When conferencing with students, encourage them to think beyond the main characters and even ones that aren’t human! I’ve had students write from the point of view of Daisy the dog, Mr. Tushman, and more.

You could prompt them with the following questions: Who do you wish you knew more about? Who is your favorite character that didn’t have a chapter? Who do you wish you knew their inner thoughts during a memorable moment?

Next, students will choose events or chapters where their character played a role, no matter how small, as long as they were present. For example, writing from Daisy’s point of view, a student wrote about her trip to the veterinarian. This step will take a few more writing class periods since it involves rereading parts of the book. 

After conferencing, they will need to choose just one event or chapter to focus on for the next step which is all about their character. They will use a graphic organizer to plan their characters’ thoughts, feelings, and actions during the specific event or chapter. This will help students build dialogue for their character whether internal or external.

This will also be a great opportunity for a mini-lesson on vocabulary, emphasizing how to express feelings not only through strong adjectives but also through their characters’ actions or inactions. This step is crucial to students being able to convey their characters’ points of view! 

The last step in planning will help make their drafts a lot more focused and organized. During this step, students will outline the sequence of their event or chapter using any variety of sequencing graphic organizers that best suits your students' needs. I usually use multiple depending on their specific levels and needs.

For example, for lower-level students, I may give a basic beginning, middle, and end organizer with transition words and sentence starters. For upper elementary students, I may give a blank outline with several boxes to break the event or chapter down even more. 

A possible confusion to look out for amongst students is them writing the sequence of events of the whole book! Yes, this has happened in my classroom. Make sure to remind them that they are only focusing on their specific event or chapter.

You might also like these point of view graphic organizers. 

Rough Draft, Editing, Revising the Point of View Paper

Inevitably, you will have multiple students working on the same characters, and maybe even the same events or chapters. Use this as an opportunity for focused heterogeneous small groups!

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students can bounce ideas off each other, share books (if you are limited), ask each other questions specific to their character and/or event/chapter, peer edit, and revise. You will hopefully hear students having on-topic conversations and perhaps even save you from answering a bunch of questions...you’re welcome.

Students should draft using their sequence graphic organizers and character graphic organizers for reference. Additional mini-lessons during this time should be based on narrative writing such as dialogue rules, transition words, and how to write a conclusion.

For a rubric, I used a mandated narrative rubric from my school, so feel free to do the same. Just make sure they have reviewed it and have it handy during this time.  (These free rubric makers and tips for using rubrics in the classroom might be helpful.)

Publishing the Final Drafts

For publishing, students are typically given an assignment via Google Classroom to publish using Google Docs. This allows students to practice their typing skills, use spellcheck, and allows you to comment on their work directly and even differentiate. For example, students can use voice typing on Google Docs.

However, you may choose to have students just write their final drafts on paper or publish using a different website, whatever works best for you and your students!

Extension and Reflection on Your Point of View Writing Project

Lastly, a fun extension activity I have done with students in the past has been them recreating the cover of the book. I always look for ways to integrate arts and crafts into the classroom because I seem to always have super talented artsy students.

For example, I’ve had students recreate the book cover using the same color scheme, but reflecting on what makes them a “wonder” and personalizing the face on the cover to fit their personality. However, you can use the same idea and have them create the cover for their character to go along with their published writing. 

This writing unit helps reinforce students’ reading comprehension of Wonder , apply their knowledge of point of view, and helps them make the connection between reading and writing. Best of all, students are engaged and motivated during this unit because it is based on a book they know and love and it allows them to be creative and have choices.

Check out these other tips and activities for teaching point of view to upper elementary students here. 

You might also like some of these other writing tips and ideas for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classrooms.  

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Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays: Tips To Stand Out

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Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has helped numerous students get accepted into Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. So we know what it takes to help you stand out from our own personal experience! In your Johns Hopkins secondary essays, you have to emphasize your desire to change and improve medicine. Submitting OUTSTANDING Johns Hopkins secondaries are vital to receiving an interview invite, which ultimately can lead to an acceptance. Johns Hopkins loves to recruit the best of the best , students from all backgrounds. Therefore, almost all med school applicants receive a Johns Hopkins secondary application. Contact us if you want our help with editing your Johns Hopkins secondary essays !

Johns Hopkins is not a time-sensitive medical school, so you do not need to rush to submit this secondary. Therefore, this is not a secondary we would immediately pre-write, but you can start working on some of the questions that don’t change year-over-year.

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Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023 – 2024

• (Optional) If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation, and your plans for the upcoming year. (2,000 characters max) Reworded and longer character limit, but still asking for same information. 
• (Optional)  If you interrupted your college education for a semester or longer, please describe what you did during that time. (2,000 characters max) Reworded and longer character limit, but still asking for same information. 
• List Academic Honors and Awards. (600 characters max)
• Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application. (2,500 characters max)
• Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment. (2,500 characters max)
• Briefly describe a situation where you had to overcome adversity; include lessons learned and how you think it will affect your career as a future physician. (2,500 characters max)
• Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (2,500 characters max)
• Wonder encapsulates a feeling of rapt attention … it draws the observer in. Tell us about a time in recent years that you experienced wonder in your everyday life. Although experiences related to your clinical or research work may be the first to come to mind, we encourage you to think of an experience that is unrelated to medicine or science. What did you learn from that experience? (2,500 characters max)
• (Optional)  The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it.   (2,500 characters max)

10 Tips to Answer Your Johns Hopkins  Secondary Essays

Johns Hopkins Secondary Pre-Writing Guidance: Most of Hopkins’ secondary questions stay the same each year. You can pre-write responses to questions that have stayed the same for the past 3 years. From our extensive experience, Hopkins is not a time-sensitive medical school, so you do not need to rush to submit this secondary. Therefore, t his is not a secondary we would immediately pre-write, but you can start working on some of the questions that don’t change year-over-year.

• Download our   Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples .

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays Tip #1:  A far majority of students at Johns Hopkins medical school take gap years. Now, there is ample space to discuss what you did in your gap years! The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine admissions committee is looking for medical students who spent their gap year(s) involving themselves with activities that tie to their visions in improving healthcare. For example, applicants may have conducted global health work abroad. Others worked for the NIH creating life-saving medications. In addition to your vision to change medicine, make sure that you talk about your clinical experience. If it applies to you, make sure to use up all the space for the Johns Hopkins secondaries questions: “ If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation, and your plans for the upcoming year ” and “ If you interrupted your college education for a semester or longer, please describe what you did during that time. ” 

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays Tip #2:  Johns Hopkins wants to recruit a student body compromising of students who are the best of the best. Therefore, students who matriculate often have many academic honors from their undergraduate education. Many premedical students don’t know that Phi Beta Kappa and departmental honors are worthy to mention. Please add! 

JHUSOM also loves national-level and international-level awards / honors. If you receive an honor after you submit your secondary application, make sure to write an update letter . 

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays Tip #3: It is okay if you don’t know a specific specialty when answering “ Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? ” Notice, though, that you have 2,500 characters to answer this question. If you have specific populations, such as pediatrics or cancer patients, who you want to work with, then you can use this space to talk about your experiences and why you want to work with those populations. You can even discuss broader goals; you can say that you want to be involved in primary care and community health. 

In this essay, you should discuss how Johns Hopkins University and the academic program will help you become the physician you want to be. There is no straightforward “Why Johns Hopkins” essay, so as we say in the tip below, make sure to add it throughout the Johns Hopkins secondaries .. and this is a great essay to include Why Hopkins.

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays Tip #4: Highlight your leadership, passion to change healthcare, and impact on society throughout your Johns Hopkins secondaries. 

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays Tip #5:   Tell stories to convey your impact and leadership throughout your Johns Hopkins secondaries. For example, if you conducted research over a gap year, tell a story about a challenge you faced or a patient you met while conducting a clinical trial. Don’t forget to include patient care stories from your clinical experiences too!

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays Tip #6:  For the Johns Hopkins Wonder essay, you can write about any topic, including non-science related experiences. A great Johns Hopkins secondary essay answer for this prompt will convey: 1) your intellectual curiosity and excitement for the topic you choose and 2) the reader should learn something about the topic you are writing about.  

Example topics we’ve read from excellent “wonder” answers include:

– Space

– Specific empires in history

– A specific leader or historical feature

– Shakespeare plays

– A book that made somebody think differently about life

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essay Tip #7:  For the question, “ Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? ” read sample essays in our Cracking Med School Admissions book ! Some strong applicants talk about instances when their ideas or opinions went against the status quo.

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays Tip #8: Don’t forget to incorporate a little bit about “Why Johns Hopkins” throughout your Johns Hopkins secondaries. Incorporate “ why this medical school; ” talk about projects and research you want to do at Hopkins. Many students take a gap year or more in medical school, pursuing research or an additional Dual Degree program. You can also convey your ambitions during your future medical school career. Read How to Get Into Johns Hopkins School of Medicine page to learn more about student culture and curriculum.

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays Tip #9: Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you through our secondary essay packages .

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays Tip #10: Answer as many questions as possible. It is important that you answer the optional essay (the last Johns Hopkins secondary essay prompt). Our Cracking Med School Admissions team does not view this secondary questions as optional. Remember, you don’t have to discuss your ethnic diversity. You can talk about other experiences that really pushed you and reflect why you want to be a doctor . Read our HIGH-YIELD blog post:  Medical School Diversity Essay Examples and Tips

We have found that the best diversity essays for top medical schools discuss – How You Will Lead The World To Change Medicine

[ Read more secondary essay tips:  Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) ,  Yale School of Medicine ,  Columbia University Vagelos ,  Weill Cornell Medicine  ]

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Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022 – 2023

• If you took a gap year, describe activities. (700 characters max)
• If you took time off *during* undergraduate, describe why and what you did. (700 characters max)

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Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022

• (Optional)  The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it.  (2,500 characters max)

Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2020 – 2021

• Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application. (2,500​ characters max)
• Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment. (2,500​ characters max)
• Briefly describe a situation where you had to overcome adversity; include lessons learned and how you think it will affect your career as a future physician. (2,500​ characters max)
• Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (2,500​ characters max)
• Wonder encapsulates a feeling of rapt attention … it draws the observer in. Tell us about a time in recent years that you experienced wonder in your everyday life. Although experiences related to your clinical or research work may be the first to come to mind, we encourage you to think of an experience that is unrelated to medicine or science. What did you learn from that experience? (2,500​ characters max)
• (Optional) The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it.

Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2019 – 2020

• Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application. (900 characters max)
• Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment. (1,100 characters max)
• Briefly describe a situation where you had to overcome adversity; include lessons learned and how you think it will affect your career as a future physician. (900 characters max)
• Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (1,100 characters max)
• (Optional) The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the  Johns Hopkins University  School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it. (1,100 characters max)

Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019

• Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from this experience? (1,100 characters max)
• (Optional) The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the  Johns Hopkins University  School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity), or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it. (1,100 characters max)

Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2017 – 2018

• If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (700 characters max)
• If you interrupted your college education for a semester or longer, please describe what you did during that time. (700 characters max)
• List any academic honors or awards you have received since entering college. (600 characters max)
• (Optional)  The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the  Johns Hopkins University  School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity), or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it.  (1,100 characters max)
• If applying to the dual MD/MBA program, please describe your reasons for wishing to obtain this degree. (1,100 characters max)

Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2016 – 2017

• Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application.  (900 characters max)
• Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment.  (1,100 characters max)
• Briefly describe a situation where you had to overcome adversity; include lessons learned and how you think it will affect your career as a future physician.  (900 characters max)
• Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from this experience?  (1,100 characters max)
• If applying to the dual MD/MBA program, please describe your reasons for wishing to obtain this degree.  (1,100 characters max)

Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2015 – 2016

• (Optional)  The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity), or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it.  (1,100 characters max)

Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2014 – 2015

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Student Opinion

Over 1,000 Writing Prompts for Students

Compiled by Michael Gonchar

• April 12, 2018

Note: We have 300 new argumentative writing prompts to add to this list.

Sign up for our free Learning Network newsletter. Receive new writing prompts in your inbox every week.

Of all the resources we publish on The Learning Network, perhaps it’s our vast collection of writing prompts that is our most widely used resource for teaching and learning with The Times.

We’ve published iterations of this post in the past — 200 , 401 and even 650 prompts — but never before have we gathered all our prompts, for both personal and argument writing, into one categorized list.

Admittedly, the list is huge. In fact, there are 1,219 questions below on everything from video games and fashion to smartphones and parenting, and each prompt links to a Times article as well as to additional subquestions that can encourage deeper thinking.

To help you navigate this page, here’s an index of topics:

Technology (1-74): Social Media • Smartphones • Internet & Tech Arts & Entertainment (75-248): Music • Television • Video Games • Movies & Theater • Books & Reading • Writing • The Arts • Language & Speech School & Career (249-449): School • Learning & Studying • Education Tech • Teachers & Grading • School Rules & Student Life • College • Work & Careers Identity & Family (450-828): Parenting • Family • Childhood Memories • Growing Up • Overcoming Adversity • Your Personality • Religion & Morality • Role Models • Gender • Race & Ethnicity • Neighborhood & Home • Money & Social Class • What If... Social Life & Leisure Time (829-1,059): Friendship • Dating & Sex • Looks & Fashion • Food • Sports & Games • Travel • Holidays & Seasons • Shopping & Cars Science & Health (1,060-1,140): Science & Environment • Animals & Pets • Exercise & Health Civics & History (1,141-1,219): Guns & the Justice System • Government Policy • History & News

So dive into the hundreds of writing prompts below — and let us know in the comments how you might use them in your classroom.

Social Media

1. Is Social Media Making Us More Narcissistic? 2. Are You the Same Person on Social Media as You Are in Real Life? 3. How Young Is Too Young to Use Social Media? 4. What Advice Do You Have for Younger Kids About Navigating Social Media? 5. How Do You Use Facebook? 6. What Is Your Facebook Persona? 7. How Real Are You on Social Media? 8. What Memorable Experiences Have You Had on Facebook? 9. Does Facebook Ever Make You Feel Bad? 10. Does Facebook Need a ‘Dislike’ Button? 11. Has Facebook Lost Its Edge? 12. Would You Consider Deleting Your Facebook Account? 13. Would You Quit Social Media? 14. Do You Have ‘Instagram Envy’? 15. Who Is Your Favorite Social Media Star? 16. What’s So Great About YouTube? 17. What Has YouTube Taught You? 18. What Are Your Favorite Viral Videos? 19. What Are Your Favorite Internet Spoofs? 20. What Would You Teach the World in an Online Video? 21. Do You Ever Seek Advice on the Internet? 22. Would You Share an Embarrassing Story Online? 23. Do You Use Twitter? 24. Is Snapchat a Revolutionary Form of Social Media? 25. Why Do You Share Photos? 26. How Do You Archive Your Life? 27. What Ordinary Moments Would You Include in a Video About Your Life? 28. Are Digital Photographs Too Plentiful to Be Meaningful? 29. Do You Worry We Are Filming Too Much? 30. Have You Ever Posted, Emailed or Texted Something You Wish You Could Take Back? 31. Would You Want Your Photo or Video to Go Viral? 32. Do You Worry Colleges or Employers Might Read Your Social Media Posts Someday? 33. Will Social Media Help or Hurt Your College and Career Goals? 34. Should What You Say on Facebook Be Grounds for Getting Fired? 35. Are Anonymous Social Media Networks Dangerous? 36. Should People Be Allowed to Obscure Their Identities Online? 37. Are Parents Violating Their Children’s Privacy When They Share Photos and Videos of Them Online? 38. Would You Mind if Your Parents Blogged About You?

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