discussion questions about homework

Conversation Questions Homework

Homework Conversation Questions – ESL Free Speaking Lesson

Welcome to our ESL discussion session! Today, we’ll delve into the importance of English language skills .

Exploring how these skills impact various aspects of our lives can enhance our communication abilities and open up new opportunities.

Let’s engage in meaningful conversations to improve our understanding and proficiency in English language skills.

25 Conversation Questions About Homework

Conversation Questions:

• How do you feel about homework?
• What’s your homework routine like?
• Do you prefer studying alone or with friends?
• Where’s your favorite place to do homework?
• How do you stay organized with your assignments?
• Do you use technology for homework, and if so, how?
• Are you a procrastinator when it comes to homework?
• How do you feel when you complete a challenging assignment?
• What subjects do you find most enjoyable to do homework for?
• How do you motivate yourself to do homework?
• Do you think homework helps you learn better?
• How do you deal with distractions while doing homework?
• How do you feel about group projects as homework assignments?
• What time of day do you prefer to do homework?
• How do you balance homework with other activities?
• Do you seek help when you’re stuck on a homework question?
• How do you feel when you have a lot of homework to complete?
• Have you ever had a particularly memorable homework assignment?
• Do you enjoy researching information for homework assignments?
• How do you feel about the amount of homework you receive?
• Do you think homework should be graded for accuracy or effort?
• How do you approach studying for exams compared to doing homework?
• Do you prefer writing assignments or problem-solving tasks for homework?
• How do you celebrate completing a tough homework assignment?
• Have you ever had a homework assignment that made you think differently about a topic?

Conversation Dialogue:

Mary: Hey John, how do you feel about homework?

John: I think it’s necessary to reinforce what we learn in class. How about you, Mary?

Mary: I agree. I usually do my homework in the library to stay focused.

John: That’s a good idea. I prefer studying at home in a quiet environment.

Mary: How do you handle distractions while studying at home?

John: I try to set specific times for breaks to stay on track. How about you?

Mary: I use noise-canceling headphones to block out distractions.

John: That’s smart. It’s important to find what works best for you.

Words for Conversation:

• Assignment – a task or piece of work assigned to someone.
• Study – the devotion of time and attention to gaining knowledge.
• Deadline – the latest time or date by which something should be completed.
• Concentration – the action or power of focusing one’s attention.
• Completion – the action or process of finishing something.

So, whether you love it or hate it, homework is an essential part of the learning process .

By discussing your feelings, routines, and motivations, you can enhance your study habits and achieve academic success .

Remember to create a conducive study environment, minimize distractions, and stay motivated to complete your assignments.

Keep up the good work and continue to aim for excellence in your academic endeavors!

Related Posts:

• Speaking Lesson: Assignment – ESL Conversation Questions
• Free Speaking Lesson: Pressure – ESL Conversation Questions
• Free Speaking Lesson: Opening – ESL Conversation Questions
• Migration Conversation Questions – ESL Free Speaking Lesson
• Free Speaking Lesson: Party – ESL Conversation Questions
• Studies – ESL Conversation Questions and Speaking Lesson
• Upper Intermediate – ESL Conversation Questions and…
• Today – ESL Conversation Questions and Speaking Lesson
• Vision – ESL Conversation Questions and Speaking Lesson

Paul Holmes - University English Professor

EnglishDiary.net

Free materials for esl teachers and learners.

Find me at youtube.com/@EnglishDiaryDotNet

ESL Conversation Questions

“homework” esl discussion questions.

I. Purpose and Benefits of Homework 1. Why is homework important for students? 2. What skills do you develop by doing homework? 3. How does homework help with understanding classroom material? 4. Can homework prepare you for exams and tests? 5. Do you think homework improves discipline and time management?

II. Challenges with Homework 6. What are the most common challenges you face with homework? 7. How do you handle a large amount of homework? 8. Do you think there is such a thing as too much homework? 9. How can teachers make homework more engaging? 10. How does homework impact your free time and relaxation?

III. Homework Techniques and Strategies 11. What strategies do you use to complete your homework effectively? 12. How do you stay focused while doing homework? 13. Do you prefer doing homework alone or with a group? 14. How do you balance homework with other school activities? 15. What are some useful resources for homework help?

IV. Parental Involvement 16. How should parents be involved in their children’s homework? 17. What is the right amount of parental help with homework? 18. How can parents motivate their children to do homework? 19. Should parents check and correct homework? 20. How can parents support children who struggle with homework?

V. Impact of Homework on Learning 21. How does homework reinforce learning? 22. Do you think homework helps with retaining information? 23. Can homework be counterproductive? 24. How does the quality of homework affect learning? 25. Should homework be tailored to each student’s needs?

VI. Homework Policies and Education System 26. What do you think about your school’s homework policy? 27. How do homework policies vary in different schools or countries? 28. Should there be a limit to the amount of homework given? 29. How does the education system in your country view homework? 30. What changes would you suggest for homework policies?

VII. Technology and Homework 31. How has technology changed the way homework is done? 32. Do you use online resources for homework assistance? 33. What are the benefits and drawbacks of digital homework? 34. How do you ensure digital distractions don’t affect your homework? 35. Should schools assign more digital homework?

VIII. Homework and Time Management 36. How do you manage your time for homework and other activities? 37. What are your tips for efficient time management with homework? 38. How does homework teach you about prioritizing tasks? 39. Do you use any tools or apps for managing homework tasks? 40. How do you handle procrastination with homework?

IX. Stress and Pressure from Homework 41. Does homework cause you stress or anxiety? 42. How can students cope with homework-related stress? 43. What role do teachers play in reducing homework stress? 44. Can reducing homework improve student well-being? 45. How do you balance homework with relaxation and hobbies?

X. Individual Differences and Homework 46. How do individual learning styles affect homework practices? 47. Should homework assignments be the same for all students? 48. How can homework be adapted for students with different needs? 49. Do you think some subjects require more homework than others? 50. How do students with different academic abilities handle homework?

XI. Group Projects and Collaborative Homework 51. What are the benefits of group projects as homework? 52. How do you work effectively in a group homework setting? 53. What challenges do you face with group homework assignments? 54. How can group homework improve communication skills? 55. What is your experience with collaborative online homework tasks?

XII. Future of Homework 56. How do you see the future of homework in education? 57. Will technology continue to transform how homework is done? 58. Should the traditional concept of homework be re-evaluated? 59. How can homework be made more relevant and engaging? 60. What innovations would you like to see in homework practices?

How about these other ESL discussion topics?

“work satisfaction” esl discussion questions, “ebay” esl discussion questions, “working from home” esl discussion questions, “fear” esl discussion questions, “technology” esl discussion questions, “studying” esl discussion questions, “i.t. (information technology)” esl discussion questions, “culture wars” esl discussion questions.

Copyright 2022-2024 EnglishDiary.net

• Our Mission

Is Homework Helpful? The 5 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask

The Common Core State Standards ask teachers to increase rigor by diving deeper into material. Consequently, everything has been ramped up, classwork and homework no exception.  

My nephew, a fourth grader, has 40–50 minutes of homework a night, plus independent reading and projects. When you include a snack break, the distractions from his younger sister, and his fourth-grade attention span that is bound to wander, that time often gets doubled. He is hard working and conscientious, but many nights he is distracted, frustrated, and anxious.

The National PTA recommends 10–20 minutes of homework per night in the first grade, and an additional 10 minutes per grade level thereafter (i.e., 20 minutes for second grade, on up to 120 minutes for 12th). If you follow these guidelines, students will spend 137,160 minutes doing homework from first grade to 12th. That’s 2,286 hours, or 95 straight days, of homework. 

High school students in Finland rarely get more than a half-hour of homework a night. The country as a whole allows children to engage in more creative play at home. This is significant because its students score remarkably well on international test scores. It has many parents and education advocates in America questioning our practices.

So are we misguided with all this work? To answer that, one must step back and question the value of assignments. How often should they be assigned? Where is the line between too much and too little? Here are five considerations to help you determine what to assign and why. 

1. How long will it take to complete?  There are no surefire guidelines or golden rules that say how long students should work, especially since they progress at different speeds. Assignments need to lead to better learning outcomes. To achieve this, one must balance efficiency and effectiveness. The more efficient the assignment, the more material and learning that can be covered over the course of a year.

Here’s the rub: It must not be so quick that the material is not mastered, nor so long to provoke boredom. In between there is a sweet spot that everyone should seek.

2. Have all learners been considered?  Often, teachers make assumptions about the time it takes to complete an assignment based on the middle-of-the-pack kid. Struggling learners can take double or triple the time that other students need to complete an assignment. Don’t just think about the average learner, consider the needs of al students.

3. Will an assignment encourage future success?  A longer assignment can be justified if it is meaningful. Work that builds confidence and opens the door to future success is certainly worthwhile. Worthy assignments encourage participation in upcoming activities rather than discourage it. Teachers must explain the benefit of classwork and homework so that students will be sold on the benefits. Without the sales pitch, or the awareness of its purpose, students will view assignments as busy work.  

4. Will an assignment place material in a context the classroom cannot?  Homework is effective when classroom learning is transferred beyond the school walls. When teaching area, have students measure the area of a refrigerator shelf to determine what size sheet cake will fit for an upcoming party. When teaching the types of clouds, have students observe them in their own backyard. Make the learning applicable to everyday life, and it will be worth the time it takes to complete.

5. Does an assignment offer support when a teacher is not there?  Students can reduce the time it takes to complete assignments if they know where to turn for help. In the case of homework, teachers are not there at all. Assignments should not only check for understanding but also offer support when students struggle. Teachers should provide links to online tutorials, like Khan Academy, that offer instruction when students get stuck.

This post is the first of two parts. The second part is  Homework: Helping Students Manage their Time.

This piece was originally submitted to our community forums by a reader. Due to audience interest, we’ve preserved it. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to do homework: 15 expert tips and tricks.

Coursework/GPA

Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

How to Write Discussion Questions That Actually Spark Discussions

🎁 In addition to this blog post, we have created a whole free course on this topic. The course includes new material, actual discussions between real learners, knowledge checks, a certification, and access to an exclusive community of people working in education. Check out the course here .

Running an online discussion board is a very different challenge from having a classroom discussion. In-person instructors can ask discussion questions on the fly, rephrase themselves for clarity, and direct the flow of a conversation with follow-ups. Online, you only have one shot to ask a discussion question that catches students’ interest and compels them to speak up. The stakes are higher than you think. Sad, empty discussion boards, just like a reliance on dry online lectures, lead to disengaged students and lackluster online experiences .

On the flip side, active discussion boards can elevate an online class from okay to extraordinary. Studies show that participating in classroom discussions reinforces knowledge retention through active learning and strengthens students’ critical-thinking skills.

If you can get a real discussion going between students, then you can reap the benefits of community and collaborative learning , even if your class never meets face-to-face. To do this, you will have to look beyond the dry writing prompts and uninspired reading-comprehension questions that so often sink a conversation before it begins. You’ll have to craft questions that inspire students to actually engage and interact with each other in a lively discussion.

Here’s how.

Promote Divergent Thinking

Divergent thinking, the ability to consider many possible solutions instead of just one, is the key to a lively discussion board. While it’s important to assess students’ comprehension of the course materials, creating questions with a single right answer shuts down discussion before it starts. Consider Bloom’s Taxonomy of knowledge, which illustrates different levels of learning and understanding. The bottom of the pyramid represents the most basic levels of learning, where thinkers converge on one correct answer. The top of the pyramid, the higher level of learning, is where learners’ diverge to create their own unique answers.

Avoid questions that utilize only the bottom three layers of the pyramid: remember (fact recall), understand (explain concepts), and apply (use information to solve or interpret). These techniques are great for tests or essay assignments, but they won’t create debate, conversation, or original thought. Great discussion questions do more than just test comprehension: They turn students from passive receptors of knowledge into active participants in their education. To push students into exercising higher-level thinking, write discussion questions that pull from the top of the pyramid:

• Analyze: Ask students to examine, classify, or question course materials to draw their own conclusions.
• Evaluate: Ask students to form an opinion and defend it; critique or appraise course materials.
• Create: Ask students to use what they’ve learned to construct something new.

Avoid closed-ended questions, such as those that ask students to list characteristics, define terms, explain concepts, or recall facts. Once the correct answer has been given, there isn’t much more to say, so the discussion fizzles out. Instead, create open-ended questions that don’t have a right or wrong answer. That way, each student can give their own unique perspective as they respond to and build on their classmates’ answers.

Have Learners Share What They Already Know

Discussion questions don't just have to focus on the creation or analysis of new information. Discussion questions that ask learners to share what they already know about a new idea, problem, or related concept, can be an equally impactful way to get the conversation flowing.

Discussion questions focused on uncovering what learners already know have several solid advantages:

• Position learners as active participants in knowledge creation and sharing, rather than passive receptacles waiting to be taught new information
• Reduce barriers to participation in the discussion; you don't have to come up with an innovative idea to have something worth sharing
• Give instructors an insight into existing knowledge, so we can tailor upcoming exercises accordingly

These kind of discussion questions work best when framed similar to a think-pair-share exercise, according to the Designing for Learning blog . Ask learners to share "what they think and where, when, or how they might have heard about a concept, person, idea or related event".

For example, questions that ask learners to share prior knowledge might be framed as:

• "What do you already know about this topic? What do you want to know?"
• "Agree or disagree with the following statement, and explain why your prior knowledge justifies your opinion"

These kind of questions work best at the beginning of a new module or topic.

Encourage Analysis

Tap into students’ higher reasoning skills by posing questions that require them to critically think about course materials to draw their own conclusions. Instead of just regurgitating information, students will have to first apply what they’ve learned to the problem and then make connections by questioning, comparing, and organizing their ideas. To create analytical discussion questions, root your query in the required readings and lectures. Be careful not to slide into questions with a single right or wrong answer; instead, give students room to interpret and evaluate facts as they craft an argument. This will also create space for discussion as students compare their conclusions. Here are some examples of discussion questions that encourage analytical thinking: Ask students to critique an author’s argument: Are the theories that Darwin presented in 'On the Origin of Species' anti-religion? Ask students to compare two theories: Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that human beings are inherently good. Thomas Hobbes disagreed, calling the human condition “nasty, brutish, and short.” Do you believe that humans are inherently good? Why or why not? Use causal reasoning : Based on the materials we’ve studied this semester, what do you believe is responsible for global warming? Ask questions that promote metacognition : How has your thinking about early childhood psychology changed since you began this course? ‍

Help All Learners Engage

Low engagement is not the only reason for empty discussion boards in online courses. In some cases, learners are eager to participate but don't feel comfortable doing so.

It's not hard to see why. The internet isn't always the kindest place, and sharing new ideas or opinions can make people vulnerable to a Twitter-style pile-on. As instructors we need to find ways to help the less confident share their thoughts.

The way we phrase our discussion questions and prompts can help achieve that aim:

Set Ground Rules Up Front

At the start of your discussion exercise, or at the top of the discussion board, make the rules of engagement clear. You may want to ask participants to avoid 'personalizing' an issue, or state what kind of language is unacceptable.

Use Unbiased Language in Your Questions

Gender neutral language ('salesperson' rather than 'salesman') and inclusive pronouns ('they/them') might help some people feel more welcome in the discussion. Remove any gender-specific or race-specific phrases in your discussion questions to make sure no one feels like they're not qualified to join the discussion.

Leverage Smaller Discussion Groups

Regardless of how confident your learners are, sometimes discussion boards just get too unruly to engage with. To avoid a situation in which the discussion becomes confused, try breaking your learners into smaller discussion groups and asking them to answer questions that way. Eduflow's discussion activity , for example, allows you to separate learners into smaller groups to create a safer learning environment.

Ask for Opinions

If the internet has taught us anything, it’s that everyone has opinions, and people love sharing them. Tap into this almost primal instinct by getting students talking not just about what they know but also about what they believe. Asking for opinions forces students to employ higher-level evaluation skills to justify their arguments. These questions require students to evaluate materials, create arguments, and defend those stances with facts and theories. To create questions that require students to take a stance: Ask them to compare two things: Who was the more influential Victorian poet, Tennyson or Hardy? Have them find a better way to do something: Traditionally, election polling has been conducted solely over the phone. How could this process be updated for the modern era while still maintaining poll integrity? Encourage them to argue why something is great (or terrible): Is there value in funding drug-prevention programs in public elementary schools? Why or why not? ‍

Ask Relational Questions

Get students invested in course materials by tying them to their everyday lives. Likewise, you can encourage discussion participation by writing questions that tie to current events or issues that are important to students. These questions draw students in because they allow them to apply their own perspectives and personal histories to the course materials. The answers can bring out strongly held opinions, which are usually the basis of healthy debates. A productive discussion can encourage students to question their assumptions and learn about alternate perspectives.   To help students relate to the discussion questions: Ask for examples from students’ lives: Give an example of a time that you witnessed racial inequality. How did it shape or alter your worldview? Discuss timely issues: Last year, over 5,000 species were moved to the list of endangered animals. What role should biologists play in conservation? Brainstorm solutions to societal problems: What could be changed to improve clean-water regulations in the United States? ‍

Introduce Controversy

Give students something to argue about. Questions designed to create dissent encourages to construct arguments and formulate opinions, and students will have to actively synthesize the material to form and support an opinion. While controversy is the quickest way to spark a long and passionate online discussion, be careful when introducing sensitive subjects. Learning forums should be a safe space for all students to express ideas without feeling threatened or subjugated due to their race, gender, orientation, or religious beliefs. Controversial questions will require heavier instructor moderation to ensure that the conversations stay civil. To introduce an element of controversy into your discussions: Create questions that challenge common orthodoxies: Traditionally, law enforcement has served as the community’s first line of defense against criminal behavior, but many are beginning to question this model. What would an alternate approach to community policing look like, and how effective do you think it would be? Relate questions to current events: Should hospitals keep formula on site, or should they promote breastfeeding above all other options? Reference major debates in your academic field: Will humanity ever discover extraterrestrial life? What form might it take? ‍

Ask Fewer Questions, but Better Ones

It can be hard to know which questions will resonate with students and which will fall flat, but avoid the temptation to pepper the discussion board with questions to see what will stick. This will overwhelm students and result in less participation, not more. Instead, ask fewer questions , but spend your time crafting truly great ones that appeal to students’ higher reasoning skills and spur meaningful discussion. Great discussion questions:

• Are clear and easy to understand. Avoid acronyms and scholarly language. Most students will not spend five minutes just trying to decipher what you’re asking.
• Foster a dialogue. Beyond just having no single right answer, a good discussion question leaves room for people to not just answer the question differently but build on those answers to create a back-and-forth discussion as well.
• Are inclusive. Everyone in the class should be equally prepared to answer the question, no matter what their background. Avoid questions that include details that are specific to only one culture, economic class, or gender. For example, if you’re teaching a class to a group of international students, don’t write questions based on the concept of American Thanksgiving.
• Align with the course objectives. Just because something is interesting or would spark a lively debate doesn’t necessarily mean it’s relevant to the course. Your ultimate goal is to encourage students to use and apply the course materials, so your questions should align with that aim. ‍

Writing Great Discussion Questions Is Only Half the Battle

For most students, participating in class discussions is a calculated risk. They’re putting their carefully constructed arguments and deeply held opinions on the line, with a real possibility of criticism from their peers. You can encourage more participation and discussion by mitigating that risk and creating a welcoming space for students to share. After you’ve posed your killer question, continue to moderate and guide the discussion to keep it flowing civilly. This can be daunting in a very large online class, but an LMS with good moderation features, like the ability to section students into smaller discussion groups , can help. For more materials on collaborative learning, pedagogy, and creating fruitful online discussions, join our newsletter .

Quick navigation

Talk to us the way you prefer, request a demo, get a quote, email sales.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

student opinion

177 Questions to Inspire Writing, Discussion, Debate and Reflection

Here are all of our Student Opinion questions from the 2019-20 school year. A New York Times article, interactive feature or video is the jumping-off point for each question.

By The Learning Network

Each school day, we publish a new Student Opinion question. The questions explore everything from family, school and friendships to race, gender and social media. Not surprisingly, this past year, many of our Student Opinion prompts also touched on how the coronavirus pandemic affected nearly all aspects of our lives.

During the 2019-20 school year, we asked 177 questions, and you can find them all below or here as a PDF . The questions are divided into two categories — those that provide opportunities for debate and persuasive writing, and those that lend themselves to creative, personal or reflective writing.

A New York Times article, interactive feature or video is the jumping-off point for each question, and students can view each linked Times article without a digital subscription.

These questions are used by some teachers as a way to spark class discussion and debate, while other teachers use them as an entry point for practicing narrative or persuasive writing. Our Student Opinion questions offer an authentic audience for student voices as well as a way to encourage students to engage with current events and peers from around the world.

We also have a free, on-demand webinar that offers other ideas on how to use our writing prompts in the classroom for everyday low-stakes writing practice across the curriculum.

Questions for Debate and Persuasive Writing

1. Should Students Get Mental Health Days Off From School? 2. Do Video Games Deserve the Bad Rap They Often Get? 3. Should College Be Free? 4. Where Should We Draw the Line Between Community Health and Safety and Individual Liberty and Privacy? 5. Does the United States Owe Reparations to the Descendants of Enslaved People? 6. What Topics Do You Wish You Could Learn About in School? 7. Should Parents Track Their Children? 8. When Do You Become an Adult? 9. Is the Mona Lisa Bad for Art? 10. Would You Return a Lost Wallet? (What if It Had Lots of Money in It?) 11. Do You Believe Aliens Exist? 12. Is Animal Testing Ever Justified? 13. Should Gifted and Talented Education Be Eliminated? 14. Do Films Like ‘Joker’ Endorse (or Even Promote) Violence? 15. Why Is It Important for People With Different Political Beliefs to Talk to Each Other? 16. What Rules, if Any, Should There Be About Phone Use During Live Performances? 17. Should Stay-at-Home Parents Be Paid? 18. Should We Feel Guilty When We Travel? 19. Are Some Youth Sports Too Intense? 20. Can Social Media Be a Tool for Learning and Growth in Schools? 21. Should Students Be Required to Take the SAT and ACT to Apply to College? 22. Should Your School Day Start Later? 23. Should Facebook Fact-Check Political Speech? 24. Should Blowouts Be Allowed in Youth Sports? 25. Should the Week Be Four Days Instead of Five? 26. Should Sports Journalism ‘Stick To Sports’? 27. Should Students Be Punished for Not Having Lunch Money? 28. Should Schools Test Their Students for Nicotine and Drug Use? 29. Is Racial and Economic Diversity in Schools Important? 30. Should Texting While Driving Be Treated Like Drunken Driving? 31. Why Do Bystanders Sometimes Fail to Help When They See Someone in Danger? 32. Are Comic-Book Movies Ruining Film? 33. How Do You Think American Education Could Be Improved? 34. Should All Schools Teach Cursive? 35. What Suggestions Do You Have for Improving Lunch at Your School? 36. Should Musicians Be Allowed to Copy or Borrow From Other Artists? 37. What Do You Think About Prince Harry and Meghan ‘Stepping Back’? 38. What Role Should Textbooks Play in Education? 39. Should Public Transit Be Free? 40. How Should We Punish Sports Cheaters? 41. Is There a ‘Right Way’ to Be a Tourist? 42. Do the Grammy Awards Represent the Best in Music Today? 43. Do You Think the World Is Getting Closer to Securing the Promise of ‘Never Again’? 44. Should the Adults in Your Life Be Worried by How Much You Use You Use Your Phone? 45. Is It Offensive for Sports Teams and Their Fans to Use Native American Names, Imagery and Gestures? 46. Should Facial Recognition Technology Be Used in Schools? 47. In the Age of Digital Streaming, Are Movie Theaters Still Relevant? 48. Do Memes Make the Internet a Better Place? 49. Is Childhood Today Over-Supervised? 50. How Do You Decide What News to Believe, What to Question and What to Dismiss? 51. Should Plastic Bags Be Banned Everywhere? 52. Do You Think Online Conspiracy Theories Can Be Dangerous? 53. What Should #MeToo Mean for Teenage Boys? 54. Is It Immoral to Increase the Price of Goods During a Crisis? 55. Should Public Preschool Be a Right for All Children? 56. What Are Your Reactions to the Impeachment Inquiry of President Trump? 57. Is the Impeachment Inquiry a Teachable Moment? Or Should Politics Stay Out of the Classroom? 58. What Is Your Reaction to the Results of the Iowa Caucuses? 59. How Do You Think the Primaries and 2020 Presidential Election Should Proceed? 60. What Role Should Celebrities Have During the Coronavirus Crisis? 61. Should Schools Change How They Grade Students During the Pandemic? 62. Should We All Be Able to Vote by Mail? 63. Is It OK to Laugh During Dark Times? 64. When the Pandemic Ends, Will School Change Forever? 65. What Makes a Great Leader? 66. Should Students Be Monitored When Taking Online Tests? 67. Should National Service Be Required for All Young Americans?

Questions for Creative and Personal Writing

68. How Is What You Are Studying in School Relevant to Your Life and the Larger World? 69. How Much Racism Do You Face in Your Daily Life? 70. Do You Ever Laugh at the Misfortune of Others? 71. How Much Has Your ZIP Code Determined Your Opportunities? 72. What Weaknesses and Strengths About Our World Are Being Exposed By This Pandemic? 73. What Have You Learned About Yourself During This Lockdown? 74. What’s the Most Memorable Thing That Happened to You This Summer? 75. Does Your Life Ever Feel Too Busy? 76. How Do You Feel About Active-Shooter Drills in Schools? 77. When Have You Either Forgiven Someone or Been Forgiven Yourself? 78. How Do You Deal With Self-Doubt? 79. What Are Your Hometown’s Shortcomings? 80. Have You Ever Had a Significant Friendship End? 81. Are You Going to a Youth Climate Strike? 82. How Well Do Your Parents Deal With Sibling Conflicts? 83. How Similar Are Your Political Views to Those of Your Parents? 84. Have You Ever Read a Book You Weren’t Supposed to Read? 85. What Do You Eat for Dinner on a Typical Weeknight? 86. What’s Your Favorite Punctuation Mark? 87. Do You Get an Allowance? 88. Have You Ever Encountered Racist or Extremist Content Online? 89. What Do You Think of the Field of Democratic Presidential Candidates? 90. What Is Your Favorite Rivalry? 91. Who Do You Turn To in a Crisis? 92. Are You a Worrier? 93. What Grievances Do You Have With Your Local Community? 94. What’s Your Favorite Halloween Costume, Past or Present? 95. How Good Are You at Spending Time Alone? 96. What Could You Read, Listen to or Watch to Stretch Your Cultural Imagination? 97. Do You Read Reviews? 98. Do You Want to Get Married Someday? 99. Do You Seek Out New Experiences? Or Stick With the Things You Know and Love? 100. How Well Do You Read Other People? 101. What Does Thanksgiving Mean to You? 102. Do You Have Any Close Friends? 103. Have You Ever Tried to Make Money Online? 104. Do You Feel Safer When You Know You’re Being Watched? 105. What Are Your Experiences With Meditation? 106. How Will You Remember the 2010s? 107. Do You See Yourself in the Books You Read? 108. What Were the Best and Worst Things About 2019 for You? 109. Are You Good at Giving Gifts? 110. What Is Your Choice for Word of the Year? 111. How Have You Coped With the Death of an Idol? 112. Who Are the Ordinary Heroes of 2019? 113. What Are Your Predictions for the New Year and the New Decade? 114. What Era Do You Wish You Had Grown Up In? 115. Would You Want to Live and Breathe Creating Content for Social Media? 116. Do You Complain Too Much, Too Little or Just the Right Amount? 117. How Would You Rate Your Listening Skills and Those of the People Around You? 118. Would You Consider Serving in the U.S. Armed Forces? 119. Have You Ever Quit Something? 120. What Are You Doing to Change Your School? 121. What Does Kobe Bryant’s Death Mean to You? 122. Did You Watch the Super Bowl? What Did You Think? 123. How Have You Learned About Slavery? 124. Would You Ever Consider Becoming Vegetarian? 125. Do You Turn to Your Parents for Advice? 126. What Role Have Coaches Played in Your Life? 127. How Would You Design Your Ideal Museum? 128. Are You Able to Be Your Whole Self at School? 129. Do You Have More Good Habits Than Bad? 130. We Document Life’s Milestones. How Should We Document Death? 131. How Concerned Are You About the Coronavirus Outbreak? 132. Are You a Good Person? 133. Would You Allow an Ex-Prisoner to Live With You? 134. How Would Your Life Be Different if You Didn’t Have Wi-Fi and Cellular Service? 135. Stress, Worry and Anxiety Are All Different. How Do You Cope With Each? 136. Is the Diversity of Your School Accurately Reflected in Its Promotional Materials? 137. What Is Your Reaction to the Latest News About the Coronavirus Outbreak? 138. What Role Does Poetry Play in Your Life? 139. How Can We Help One Another During the Coronavirus Outbreak? 140. What Songs Matter to You Now? 141. How Is the Coronavirus Outbreak Affecting Your Life? 142. What Are You Reading, Watching, Listening To, Playing and Cooking? A Place for Recommendations 143. How Are You Staying Healthy and Fit? 144. What Questions Do You Have About the Coronavirus? 145. Has Your School Switched to Remote Learning? How Is It Going So Far? 146. How Do Animals Provide Comfort in Your Life? 147. Is the Coronavirus Pandemic Bringing Your Extended Family Closer Together? 148. What Are Some Ways to “Travel” Without Traveling During the Pandemic? 149 Holidays and Birthdays Are Moments to Come Together. How Are You Adapting During the Pandemic? 150. How Has the Coronavirus Changed How You Use the Internet? 151. How Are You Getting Your Sports Watching Fix? 152. What Acts of Kindness Have You Heard About or Participated In During Coronavirus? 153. When Has Starting Over Worked for You? 154. Is Your Family Experiencing Greater Conflict During a Time of Self-Quarantine? 155. How Are You Feeling About Missing Prom? 156. How Can You Tell a Story About Your Life Right Now Through a Few Simple Numbers? 157. What Does Your Accent Say About Who You Are? 158. How Do You Greet Your Friends and Family? 159. What Are Your Favorite Games? 160. What Do You Miss Most About Your Life Before the Pandemic? 161. What Are Your Hopes for Summer 2020? What Are Your Worries? 162. How Do You Connect With Your Parents? 163. Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist? 164. What Do the Objects in Your Home Say About You? 165. What’s the First Thing You Plan to Do After Quarantine? 166. Do You Enjoy Going On a Walk — Especially Now? 167. What’s the Best Book You Ever Read for School? 168. What’s the Craziest Thing You Did as a Kid? 169. How Is Your Family Dividing Responsibilities During the Quarantine 170. How Has Social Distancing Changed Dating for Teenagers? 171. Do You Believe in Ghosts? 172. What Issues in the 2020 Presidential Race Are Most Important to You? 173. Do You Prefer to Dwell in the Past, Live in the Present or Dream of the Future? 174. Does the Future of Robots Get You Excited, or Fill You With Dread? 175. How Do You Practice Self-Care? 176. How Will We Remember the Coronavirus Pandemic? 177. What Is Your Reaction to the Days of Protest That Have Followed the Death of George Floyd?

Want more writing prompts?

You can find even more Student Opinion questions in our 550 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing and 130 New Prompts for Argumentative Writing . We also publish daily Picture Prompts , which are image-centered posts that provide space for many different kinds of writing. You can find all of our writing prompts, added as they publish, here .

 ESL Discussions

  14,180 english conversation questions.

  * 709 discussions.   * Ready-to-print handouts.   * Everyday & controversial topics.

     Help My Site

Copyright © 2008-2023 by Sean Banville | Links | Privacy Policy

9 Best Homework Help Websites

July 22, 2023

When I was in high school, resources for extra homework help weren’t exactly abundant. If you were struggling with a Shakespeare sonnet, you could always run to the bookstore and pick up a CliffNotes guide. SparkNotes was also gaining in popularity. But these early homework help resources had limited catalogs and were focused primarily on literature. Today, I imagine students suffer from the opposite problem—having too many choices when it comes to homework help websites. When the options are seemingly endless, knowing what to look out for takes on an added importance. Below, I’ll go through a list of 9 stand-out homework help websites and briefly discuss what makes them worth a visit.

Homework Help Websites – The Basics

The best homework help websites do more than just spit out an answer to that tricky math problem. They actually help students learn the material. Common features of homework help websites are educational videos and lectures, practice tests and quizzes, study tools like flashcards, and Q&As with experts. Many sites offer features that allow students to ask specific questions and get real-time feedback. There are also a number of services that offer one-on-one tutoring. Some homework help sites are free, while others require a paid subscription.

1) Khan Academy

Khan Academy is an amazing resource for students of all ages. It’s free, and it really is an academy—it offers full courses in a wide array of subjects, from pre-K math to high school physics. The courses consist of readings, video lectures, practice exercises, and quizzes. The breadth of material is impressive. In math alone, I see course listings for Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Statistics, Multivariable calculus—you get the idea. Khan Academy also offers a wide variety of AP courses, state-specific curricula, test-prep programs, and life skill courses, like personal finance.

It’s important to note that Khan Academy isn’t a one-on-one tutoring platform. But because of their extensive library of material, the search function is especially powerful. Try it out. I did a search for argumentative essay help, and found a comprehensive guide to writing argumentative essays that was a part of a larger writing course.

Chegg is a paid homework help service. Unlike Khan Academy, Chegg isn’t built around specific courses. Rather, it offers a variety of homework-support resources. Among those resources are plagiarism and grammar checkers, a proofreading service, and a “math solver”, which allows students to enter a problem and get back both a solution and a detailed step-by-step explanation of how the problem was solved. Perhaps the most powerful tool Chegg offers is its “Expert Q&A” feature. This service allows students to take a picture of their homework problem, upload it to the site, and get a detailed response in return. Chegg’s emphasis on process and explanation make it a valuable educational resource for students—not just a way to get a quick answer.

Best Homework Help Websites (Continued)

Quizlet is a well-known and worthwhile study resource. It offers a variety of courses, and it also has an expert-response feature. But Quizlet’s best feature, in my option, is the flashcards tool. Students can create their own digital decks of cards and practice them on Quizlet—just like an old fashion set of index cards. I had a ton of success using Quizlet’s flash card feature to help me memorize words for my foreign language requirement in college. It’s a simple but powerful tool. Although often maligned as a learning method, rote rehearsal and spaced repetition are effective ways to encode information . Quizlet’s flashcard feature is a great way to put those techniques into practice.

4) Socratic

is an AI-powered homework support app that allows students to type or take pictures of questions and receive solutions right away. Since it works with AI, it relies on the web’s vast stores of accumulated knowledge—you’re not interacting with a human tutor. Nonetheless, I found it to be an extremely helpful tool. I tried it out first using a specific math problem. In just a few seconds I was provided with the solution and an explainer with relevant formulas, plus a graphic to help visualize the underlying logic. There were also suggested links to additional resources. For example, when I asked Socratic to explain how the German genitive case works, it suggested a YouTube video and a number of articles from blogs and other language-learning sites.

Since Socratic doesn’t feature courses or one-on-one tutoring support, I wouldn’t lean on it if I were really struggling in a particular class. But as a tool to check your work, make sure you’re on the right track, and become aware of additional resources, it’s worth a download.

5) Photomath

Photomath is, as you might have guessed, a site for math homework help. Like other homework help websites, Photomath allows students to take a picture of a problem and receive an instant, step-by-step solution. Included along with the solution is an explanation of relevant concepts and formulas, plus videos covering mathematical concepts. Photomath does offer a few basic courses, too. So if in addition to homework-specific help you want to brush up on the basics, they’ve got you covered in arithmetic, algebra, and calculus crash courses.

6) Studypool

Studypool is a paid homework support service that provides solutions to specific questions. Studypool offers support in all the major subjects, with a particular emphasis on science. Students can ask questions on everything from anatomy to physics. Like other services, students upload their exact questions or problems directly to the site. But Studypool’s payment model is a bit different: instead of paying for tutoring time or a monthly subscription, students pay for solutions to each question they submit. When a student submits a question, tutors submit bids to answer them. The student then can select which tutor/price option works best. After students select the price and tutor they want, they’re connected with the tutor and given the solution and explanation via messenger.

The draw of Studypool is that it gives students access to real (i.e., human) tutors who are experts in their field. The downside is that pricing isn’t transparent, and students pay per question.

7) College Info Geek

College Info Geek is the study-support website that I wish I knew about when I was in high school and college (they didn’t pay me to write that, I swear). The site focuses not on specific courses or questions, but on how to become a more effective learner. Here it’s all about “learning how to learn”—study tips, memorization and note-taking techniques, and much more. The articles are well-researched, clearly-communicated, practical, and comprehensive. For example, the article on how to improve your memory includes a breakdown of the different types of memory processes, memorization techniques, and even a discussion of how nutrition affects memory. College Info Geek is a great resource for everyone, not just high school and college students.

8) SparkNotes

Yes, Sparknotes made the list! The site offers lessons in a whole bunch of subjects—biology, chemistry, computer science, history, philosophy, math—but its specialty is literature. SparkNotes provides summaries and analyses of novels, short stories, poetry, and non-fiction, from The Canterbury Tales to Toni Morrison, Saul Bellow, and Junot Diaz. SparkNotes breaks down books into sub-sections and provides synopses and analyses for each section. There are also separate pages for character breakdowns, discussions of themes and motifs, and explanations of important quotes. I’d caution against using SparkNotes if you’re trying to “hack” a novel or poem and get simple answers about what it “means.” But as a way to supplement your own understanding and interpretation, it’s a great resource. Shmoop is also worth checking out for extra support in literature, poetry, mythology, and the history of literary movements.

9) Grammarly

I’m not sure if Grammarly is an obvious or unexpected choice to round out the list. Either way, it deserves a mention here. Grammarly is a writing tool. It checks and suggests corrections for incorrectly spelled words and misused punctuation. But Grammarly also scans and corrects for things like clarity and vocab usage. It flags sentences that are vague, or overly wordy, and alerts you if you’re using that flashy vocab word incorrectly. It even gives suggestions if it thinks your writing is a bit bland. I don’t see Grammarly as a crutch, but rather as a tool. It can help you master those pesky recurring grammar and usage issues. Always mix up effect and affect? Grammarly will continue to course correct until you’ve got it down yourself.

Homework Help Websites – Final Thoughts

None of the above homework help websites should be seen as a panacea. Each has benefits and drawbacks, strengths and weak points. The list is far from exhaustive. And the sites don’t have to be used in isolation. Try a few out, mix and match. College Info Geek is an excellent supplement to any study regimen. Socratic can be used as a tool to check answers for math homework, and at the same time you can use Grammarly to describe your problem to a tutor on Chegg. At their best, these sites are more than quick fixes to stubborn homework problems—they’re aids to genuine learning.

Additional Resources

You should also check out College Transitions’ “ High School Success ” blogs for help with a number of common high school assignments, including:

• Lord of the Flies Summary & Analysis 
• The Great Gatsby and The American Dream
• Analysis of Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” Speech
• Robert Frost’s Road Not Taken Analysis 
• High School Success

Dane Gebauer

Dane Gebauer is a writer and teacher living in Miami, FL. He received his MFA in fiction from Columbia University, and his writing has appeared in Complex Magazine and Sinking City Review .

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit

• Shopping Cart 0 Items in Cart

ORIGINAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

The discussion questions service Homework Nerds offer is one unique service that allow students to have a peace of mind. We can either login to your school to post your discussion questions or you can send us your own set of questions. Please note that each question is answered with 150 words and one reference. Each post made will be 100% original content and plagiarism free.

Homework Nerds Services

Original Essay

100% Original plagiarism free essays written from scratch

Original Power Point

100% Original plagiarism free Presentations from scratch

Discussion Questions

100% Original plagiarism free discussion answers written from scratch

Learning team Assignments

100% Original plagiarism free to group and learning team written from scratch

Labs, Excel & Connect

any lab, excel or connect in Finance, Math, accounting or statistics

Entire Class / Week

complete package to take care of an entire class or week activities.

Welcome to the #1 original Essays writing website

HWNerds is the #1 trusted provider of customized content based solutions for students around the world.

Since 2013, HWnerds has been deeply committed to your satisfaction. Therefore, we work hard to reach this goal. Quick delivery, free revisions, reasonable prices, and a high level of customer service are guaranteed.

What distinguishes us from others, is that we have a money back guarantee if you not satisfied. We are a team of 4 U.S based writers, with talent and passion for writing. We have an extensive experience, and strong academic background to handle any project.

If you need help with your homework, just click on the “order now” button below

We believe in the quality of hardwork & art in writing

Why we are the best, learn from the ceo of our company, when you place an order: we guarantee:.

Placing an order with Homework Nerds is risk free, here is what we do guarantee 

100% Original Content

The work we provide is guaranteed to be 100% original from scratch. It will be written and customized specially for you and not to any other student.

100% Satisfaction

When you place your order on Homework Nerds, we use my great skills that we learned over the years to ensure your ultimate satisfaction

100% Money Back

If you are not happy and satisfied with the work we provide for you. the money back guarantee we offer put you in no risk. so you have nothing to lose.

100% Plagiarism Free

You can always request a plagiarisim report to ensure the content of the assignment you requested is original and it was written from scratch for you

Success Stories

Here is what one student says about his homework nerds.

“I found out about Homework Nerds during my second class of my BA program, I was  amazed by the services the the website provide, without their help I wouldn’t be able to finish my degree, Thank you so much Homework Nerds

What makes us different

We are the best in what we do! We provide high quality work at the lowest prices. we have been helping students since 2013.

General questions.

Our services, including but not limited to, essays writing, power point, discussion questions, labs final exams and more.

Usually within 24-48 hours, but we can work on shorter time frame if needed. 

the prices is based on the services and deadline.  visit the order page  to see prices

We are trusted by more than 20,000 Students

At Homework Nerds, are always here to help our students. Since 2013, we have helped more than 20,000 students from around the world. if you need help with your school just click on the order now button to place your order today

 Get 20% OFF on your next order

Join our mail List NOW to unlock 20% OFF instantly 

Essays, Power Point, Discussion, Labs, & Final exams

You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

StudyMonkey

Your personal ai tutor.

Learn Smarter, Not Harder with AI

Introducing StudyMonkey, your AI-powered tutor .

StudyMonkey AI can tutor complex homework questions, enhance your essay writing and assess your work—all in seconds.

No more long all-nighters

24/7 solutions to questions you're stumped on and essays you procrastinated on.

No more stress and anxiety

Get all your assignments done with helpful answers in 10 seconds or less.

No more asking friends for help

StudyMonkey is your new smart bestie that will never ghost you.

No more staying after school

AI tutoring is available 24/7, on-demand when you need it most.

AI Tutor for any subject

American college testing (act), anthropology, advanced placement exams (ap exams), arabic language, archaeology, biochemistry, chartered financial analyst (cfa) exam, communications, computer science, certified public accountant (cpa) exam, cultural studies, cyber security, dental admission test (dat), discrete mathematics, earth science, elementary school, entrepreneurship, environmental science, farsi (persian) language, fundamentals of engineering (fe) exam, gender studies, graduate management admission test (gmat), graduate record examination (gre), greek language, hebrew language, high school entrance exam, high school, human geography, human resources, international english language testing system (ielts), information technology, international relations, independent school entrance exam (isee), linear algebra, linguistics, law school admission test (lsat), machine learning, master's degree, medical college admission test (mcat), meteorology, microbiology, middle school, national council licensure examination (nclex), national merit scholarship qualifying test (nmsqt), number theory, organic chemistry, project management professional (pmp), political science, portuguese language, probability, project management, preliminary sat (psat), public policy, public relations, russian language, scholastic assessment test (sat), social sciences, secondary school admission test (ssat), sustainability, swahili language, test of english as a foreign language (toefl), trigonometry, turkish language, united states medical licensing examination (usmle), web development, step-by-step guidance 24/7.

Receive step-by-step guidance & homework help for any homework problem & any subject 24/7

Ask any question

StudyMonkey supports every subject and every level of education from 1st grade to masters level.

Get an answer

StudyMonkey will give you an answer in seconds—multiple choice questions, short answers, and even an essays are supported!

Review your history

See your past questions and answers so you can review for tests and improve your grades.

It's not cheating...

You're just learning smarter than everyone else

How Can StudyMonkey Help You?

Hear from our happy students.

"The AI tutor is available 24/7, making it a convenient and accessible resource for students who need help with their homework at any time."

"Overall, StudyMonkey is an excellent tool for students looking to improve their understanding of homework topics and boost their academic success."

Upgrade to StudyMonkey Premium!

Why not upgrade to StudyMonkey Premium and get access to all features?