Night by Elie Wiesel Writing Prompts - Video Clips and Journal Writing Topics

These Night by Elie Wiesel writing prompts provide a meaningful way for students to connect personally and historically to Night by Elie Wiesel through short, high-interest video clips paired with thoughtful journal responses. This no-prep Night by Elie Wiesel writing prompts resource is designed to deepen students’ understanding of the memoir’s themes, such as faith, survival, identity, dehumanization, resilience, and the impact of trauma, by encouraging them to reflect on real-world connections. After viewing each short clip, students respond to a focused journal prompt that invites them to make text-to-self or text-to-world connections or thoughtfully share their perspective on related issues. The videos are not all directly about the memoir but are intentionally selected to reinforce the historical context, emotional experiences, and moral questions presented in Night, helping students better understand Elie Wiesel’s journey while strengthening their writing skills.

This is included in a unit plan:
→ Night by Elie Wiesel Unit Plan

Included in Night by Elie Wiesel Writing Prompts Video Resource:

➡️ Night Video Journals Presentation Slides: This PowerPoint presentation includes links to ten carefully selected video clips, each paired with a reflective journal prompt connected to key themes and moments in the memoir. The clips are organized by chapter section so they align naturally with your pacing as you move through the text, with two video journals provided for each section. Each slide clearly presents the video link alongside a focused prompt that encourages students to think critically about the ideas presented and connect them back to specific events, experiences, and themes from the memoir. The short videos are not all specifically about the text, but they connect closely to the content or themes explored in each section. The writing prompts are organized into these chapter sections:

• Section 1: Chapter 1
• Section 2: Chapters 2 - 3
• Section 3: Chapter 4
• Section 4: Chapter 5
• Section 5: Chapters 6 - 9

➡️ Night Video Journals Response Page: Students use the included printable response sheet to record their written reflections after watching each clip. The template provides a space for students to respond to each prompt and makes it simple for you to collect responses and use student reflections to spark follow-up discussions or small-group sharing.

How to Use the Night by Elie Wiesel Writing Prompts Video Resource:

• After reading the relevant chapter section, show the corresponding video clip to your class to introduce or reinforce the theme connected to that part of the memoir.
• Next, display the paired journal prompt and give students 5–10 minutes to respond independently in writing. Encourage them to reference specific moments from the text as well as their own experiences or historical understanding to make meaningful text connections.
• Once students have written their responses, invite them to share in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. This discussion time allows students to hear multiple perspectives, deepen their understanding of the memoir’s historical and emotional impact, and strengthen their ability to express thoughtful ideas in writing.
  
  

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