Attacking the Writing Prompt Before writing your essay

Attacking the Writing Prompt Before writing your essay, read the prompt several times to make sure you understand what it is asking you to do. Created for Writing Institute 2014 By: Ms. Jefferson and Miss Willemin

Different types of Writing l Expository: This type of writing is intended to explain or describe something – l Examples include: informational or procedural texts Narrative: This type of writing is a spoken or written account of connected events – Example includes: personal narratives

Strategies for Attacking the Prompt Circle the words that ask you to do something. l Analyze the prompt to identify: l Subject: (What am I writing about? ) Purpose: (Why am I writing the essay? ) Audience: (Who will read my response? ) Format: (What format does the prompt require? )

Formatting Strategies l l Expository Writing: Make sure you have a main idea and three supporting details. (Did you include your hook and thesis statement at the beginning? ) Narrative Writing: Make it personal with a beginning, middle, and end. (Make sure the reader understands the lesson learned in your conclusion. )

REMEMBER: Students are expected to write 26 lines in response to the writing prompt. Remember nothing is graded past the 26 th line.

Practice Prompt 1 Circle the words that ask you to do something. Some high schools require drug tests for all students who want to participate in a school sport. Before adopting this policy, your school’s principal has asked for student opinions. Write a letter to the principal stating your position. Support that position with reasons and examples. Persuade the principal to agree with you.

SPAF for Practice Prompt 1: l Subject: ____________ (What am I writing about? ) l Purpose: ____________ (Why am I writing the essay? ) l Audience: ____________ (Who will read my response? ) l Format: ____________ (What format should I use? )

Practice Prompt 2 Circle the words that ask you to do something. Arizona legislators are trying to find ways to balance the state budget. They announced that school funding will be severely cut. Administrators at your school must make the difficult decision to eliminate one school program. What program do you think should be cut at your school? Write an essay identifying the program you feel should be eliminated. Support your position with reasons and examples. Persuade your school administrators to agree with you.

SPAF for Practice Prompt 2: l Subject: ____________ (What am I writing about? ) l Purpose: ____________ (Why am I writing the essay? ) l Audience: ____________ (Who will read my response? ) l Format: ____________ (What format should I use? )

Practice Prompt 3 Circle the words that ask you to do something. Technology is advancing rapidly. Do you agree or disagree that technology has improved your life? Write a persuasive essay in which you convince the reader of your position.

SPAF for Practice Prompt 3: l Subject: ____________ (What am I writing about? ) l Purpose: ____________ (Why am I writing the essay? ) l Audience: ____________ (Who will read my response? ) l Format: ____________ (What format should I use? )

Have you attacked your WRITING PROMPT? ? ?