Writing Prompts For Algebra 2

Do you encourage writing in high school math?

Writing in math was something that I slowly started my second year of teaching.  That was the year we got a new principal.  She pushed for journaling across all contents, even P.E.  The goal was to increase the English STAAR EOC scores. 

The English STAAR EOC (End-Of-Course) is an assessment that combines reading and writing.  The students must pass the English I and English II exams to graduate.

Students initially struggle with writing in my class because its’s something they are used to doing in math. They think of math as formulas and calculations.

This year I’m being more intentional with their writing in Algebra 2.  I courage you to do the same.

Until a student reads what they have written down, they don’t see the holes in their thinking. 

The following writing prompts can be used as a warm-up, think-write-share, essential question, or summary.

10 Algebra Writing Prompts for High School Students

1.       Explain why you can use the vertical line test to determine if a relation is a function.

2.       How do you know when an expression is simplified completely?

3.       Explain how do you add and subtract negative numbers?

4.       Provide an example and explain why the commutative property doesn’t work for subtraction or division.

5.       Given a graph, explain how to find the domain and range.

6.     Describe at least two ways to solve 5x²- 15x =0. Which method do you prefer, and why?

7.       How are the processes used when solving quadratic equations and inequalities similar? How are they different?

8.       Describe the end behavior of a polynomial and how to determine it.

9.       How are absolute value graphs and quadratic functions similar? How do they differ?

10.   Explain how exponential functions and logarithmic functions are related.  Include an example.

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