1. Writing Prompt 1  What does bravery mean to you? Write a three-paragraph response. Provide examples of brave people or deeds to support your ideas.

2. Writing Prompt 2 (page 68)  A theme of a story is a message about life or human nature that the writer shares with readers. After reading “If I can stop one Heart from breaking,” write an essay that explains how the theme from “Thank You, Ma’am” could also be the theme of the poem. Use several examples from the story and the poem to support your answer.

3. Writing Prompt 3  Imagine if you woke up tomorrow and all the adults had vanished. What would you do to survive? (Remember, no one would know how to operate electrical plants, manufacture products in factories, or purify drinking water.)

4. Writing Prompt 4  What is the theme of “Charles” by Shirley Jackson? (Support your assertion with evidence from the short story.)

5. Writing Prompt 5  What can we learn from disasters? (Write a multi-paragraph response.)

6. Writing Prompt 6  Who deserves a second chance?  (one large paragraph)