2026 ESSAY PROMPTS

PROMPT SELECTION

Each participant will select one prompt from any one of the categories ( creative, argumentative, or journalistic) below.

The submission form will be shared with all the registered participants once registrations close on 10th February.

CREATIVE

1. Choose a character from a book, movie, or TV show of your choice. Imagine this character wakes up on a planet not yet discovered by humans. Craft a descriptive story about how the character manages to make it back to Earth. 

2. A door appears in your home that wasn't there before. It leads to a version of your life where you made a different choice in the past. You can visit, but you cannot stay. What do you find?

3. Write from the perspective of an object that has witnessed three generations of a family. What has it seen that the family themselves have forgotten or never knew?

ARGUMENTATIVE

1. Should elite universities prioritise merit or racial equity in admissions decisions? Argue which leads to a fairer society.

2. Is talent or effort more important in achieving success? Use examples from education, sports, or well-known figures to compare natural ability and perseverance.

3. Should voting be mandatory in democratic societies? Argue whether compulsory participation strengthens or undermines the integrity of democracy.

JOURNALISTIC

1. Examine how youth—either today or at earlier moments in history—have reshaped an industry. Explore the challenges the individual/group faced and the lasting impact of their innovative approaches.

2. Investigate how a public space in your area (a park, library, community center, etc.) has changed over time. What does its evolution reveal about the people who use it and the forces shaping your community?

3. Examine how a school, workplace, or institution in your community is rethinking mental health support. What's working, what's missing, and who is leading the change?