50 Engaging Writing Prompts #13: What If I Woke Up With a Superpower?
Looking for engaging journal prompts for upper-elementary and middle-school students? This free printable writing prompt invites students to imagine waking up with a superpower, explore the positive and unexpected consequences of their choices, consider the responsibility that comes with having power, and strengthen their writing through clear cause-and-effect connections.
What If I Woke Up With a Superpower?
Just imagine: you go to bed as an ordinary person. When you wake up the next morning, you can just feel something different about yourself. You peer into the mirror, trying to figure out what changed, when your cat jumps up on the sink and says, “Good morning! Could you hurry up and give me breakfast? I’m starving!” Or, as you look in the mirror, you see yourself start to fade away until you are completely invisible! How exciting! You have woken up with a superpower!
However, remember that every action has a consequence. Consequences can be good and bad, so even the most helpful power can create an unexpected problem. For example, if you could read minds, you might learn secrets you never wanted to know. If you had super strength, you might accidentally crush delicate objects. This is called cause and effect.
Writers often use cause and effect to show that when one thing happens, something else almost always follows. A cause is why something happens, while the effect is what happens as a result. Exploring both the positive and negative effects of something makes it more believable.
Today, imagine that you woke up with one superpower. What will you do with it– and what might happen as a result?
Journal Prompt
Imagine that you wake up tomorrow morning with one extraordinary ability.
Describe how you discover your superpower and what you decide to do with it. Explain how your choices affect you and the people around you. Include at least one positive result and one unexpected consequence.
Conclude by explaining whether you would keep the power and what the experience taught you about responsibility.
Reflection Questions
Use these questions if you need help developing your ideas. You do not need to answer every question.
What superpower would you have?
How would you discover your new ability?
What would you do first?
Would you tell anyone about your power?
How could your power help someone?
What unexpected problem might it cause?
Who else would be affected by your choices?
What rules would you create for using your power?
Would you choose to keep the power? Why or why not?
Why Does This Matter?
Imagining a superpower is fun, but this prompt also helps you think carefully about choices and consequences. Every decision can affect you, other people, and the world around you.
Writing about both the positive and unexpected effects of a superpower strengthens your cause-and-effect thinking, which in turn can prompt you to think about responsibility. It also encourages problem-solving and helps you see a situation from more than one point of view.
You may not have a supernatural ability, but you still have power! Learning to use your human powers like words and talents can help you make a meaningful difference.
Vocabulary Word
Responsibility
Noun
Definition: a duty to make careful choices and accept the results of your actions.
Example: Having the power to control the weather would come with the responsibility to consider how every change might affect other people.
Try it: Use the word responsibility somewhere in your response.
Writer’s Tip: Connect Causes and Effects
A cause is an action, choice, or event that makes something happen. An effect is the result that follows.
Ask yourself:
What happened—and what happened because of it?
Use cause-and-effect transitions to make the connections clear:
because
since
therefore
as a result
because of this
this caused
consequently
for that reason
Example
Unclear:
Maya could hear people’s thoughts. She stopped sitting with her friends.
Clearer cause and effect:
Maya stopped sitting with her friends because hearing all their private thoughts made her uncomfortable.
Developed example:
When Maya realized that she could hear people’s thoughts, she was initially excited because she believed the power would help her understand her friends. As a result, she began listening more closely whenever someone was upset. However, she soon heard thoughts that were never intended to be shared. Because of this, Maya became uncomfortable around other people and began spending more time alone.
The developed version shows a chain of connected events:
New power → excitement → listening → uncomfortable discovery → isolation
Add an Unexpected Consequence
Consequences do not have to be disastrous. They simply show that actions can create results the character did not predict.
For example:
A student who can freeze time is always on time—but begins feeling lonely while everyone else is frozen.
A child who can speak to animals helps lost pets—but can no longer concentrate because every animal wants attention.
Someone who can make any food appear feeds hungry families—but discovers that local farmers are losing customers.
A student who can see the future prevents one problem—but accidentally creates another.
An unexpected consequence gives your character a new decision to make and makes the writing more interesting.
Inspirational Quote
“One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.”
— Malala Yousafzai
Follow-Up Question
Malala’s words suggest that people do not need supernatural abilities to make a difference. What real strength, talent, or resource do you already possess that you could use to help someone or improve your community?
Bonus Writing Challenge
Rewrite one scene from the perspective of someone affected by your superpower.
Show what this person sees, thinks, and feels as your character uses the power. Does the person feel grateful, amazed, frightened, confused, or frustrated? Include specific details and clearly explain how your character’s actions cause this person’s reaction.
Keep Writing
Small actions can begin a chain of positive effects. You may not wake up with a supernatural power, but you already have strengths that can change someone’s day.
Every sentence you write is another stone in the bridge you are building toward a better future.
Keep writing.
Keep growing.
Keep building.
