Essay Topics

  • In 100 words or less, tell what the pioneer spirit means to you.

  • Why have Americans had pioneer spirit?

  • Famous Pioneers (use the section on famous pioneers in this guide as a starting list).

  • Why would anyone want to be a pioneer?

  • Do people plan to be pioneers?

  • Learn about accidental pioneers--individuals who discovered things by accident.

  • What are the qualities of a pioneer?

  • What are the problems of being a pioneer? For example, what problems would you face if you had been a pioneer in developing the atomic bomb?

  • How do people treat pioneers?

  • Describe the life and contributions of a pioneer in music. Both modern and classical music artists can be used.

  • Describe the life and contributions of pioneers in sports. Individuals who developed new sports or new strategies for playing traditional sports are acceptable.

  • Pioneers in medicine.

  • Pioneers in industry.

  • Pioneers in freedom.

  • Why was the American Constitution a pioneering effort?

  • Why was placing the first man on the moon a pioneering effort?

  • Pioneers in human rights.

  • Pioneers for women's rights.

  • Famous women pioneers.

  • Famous African-American pioneers.

  • Famous Hispanic pioneers.

  • Pioneers in politics or in the development of political theory. For example, Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence would work.

  • In which area of life would you like to be a pioneer?

  • The 10 best areas of human endeavor for a person to be a pioneer in our modern world.

  • In 100 words or less, describe the best way for you (the student) to be a pioneer.

  • Describe the hardships of the frontier life. How did pioneers seem to find strength and beauty in life? How did they persevere and rise above their circumstances?

  • The pioneers of another country. For more focus, choose a continent and assign different countries on this continent to different members of your class.

  • Pioneers in Eastern Europe--individuals in the past decade who were leaders in ending the cold war.

  • The life of a pioneer family on the trail.

  • Life in a pioneer town.

  • Pioneers in your community.

  • Pioneers in your family.

  • Pioneers in your state.