Choose one prompt (or one assigned by your teacher). Write at least three paragraphs. Use specific details — no filler.
1. Describe, step by step, the first time you learned a yo-yo trick — or watched someone learn one. What went wrong before it went right?Narrative
2. Explain exactly how a yo-yo "sleeps" at the bottom of the string and how a tug brings it back. Write so that someone who has never touched a yo-yo could understand.Informative
3. Should schools spend money on skill-toy programs (yo-yos, kendamas, juggling) for PE or after-school clubs? Make your case with at least two reasons and one counterargument you answer.Argumentative
4. Pedro Flores, a Filipino immigrant, invented the looped string that makes modern yo-yo tricks possible; Donald Duncan bought Flores's company and made the yo-yo famous worldwide. Who deserves more credit for the yo-yo — the inventor or the marketer? Research both men, cite at least two sources, and defend your answer.Research
5. Compare learning a yo-yo trick to learning any other hard skill (an instrument, a sport, a language). What's the same about the process? What's different?Compare / Contrast
6. You are designing a yo-yo for a contest. Describe your design — shape, weight, materials, colors — and explain why each choice would help a player win.Descriptive
7. "A yo-yo always comes back." Write about a time you (or someone you know) kept trying at something that kept failing — and what finally changed.Reflective
8. In 1965 a court ruled the word "yo-yo" had become generic, and Duncan lost its trademark. Was that the right call? Consider both the company that built the brand and the competitors who wanted to use the word.Argumentative
| Category | 4 — Strong | 3 — Good | 2 — Developing | 1 — Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideas | Clear, original thinking; specific details throughout | Clear ideas with some specific details | Ideas present but vague or repetitive | Ideas unclear or off-prompt |
| Organization | Logical flow; strong opening and closing | Mostly organized; paragraphs in sensible order | Weak structure; jumps around | No clear structure |
| Evidence | Facts/examples well chosen and cited (#4, #8) | Some supporting detail or sources | Little support; mostly opinion | No support given |
| Conventions | Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation | A few minor errors | Errors distract the reader | Errors block meaning |
Discussion points: #4 — there is no single right answer; look for use of sources over vibes. #8 — good answers weigh both sides (brand investment vs. language belonging to everyone). #3 — strong answers address cost and the counterargument that PE time is already scarce.