SPATing Your Prompt Analysis Tool In each prompt

SPAT-ing Your Prompt Analysis Tool

In each prompt. Look for SPAT • Situation: Event that causes you the need to write. (on test you pretend) • Purpose: The reason you’re writing: to persuade, to narrate an event, to respond to a text/ graphic/ chart. • Audience: The person (people) you’re pretending to write to. • Task: The type of writing you are to do: letter, feature article, editorial, or speech.

Situation • Situation is labeled for you • It’s always the first part of the prompt • It’s a make believe situation that hasn’t really happened to you • It creates a need to write • Underline key words in the situation

Purpose Look for one of these in the writing task: • Inform on a given topic(organize information by using main ideas and supporting details. ) • Persuade (Consider the needs/feelings of the audience as you solve problems and/or convince them. Use main ideas and supporting details. ) • Narrate for a purpose (Narrate to inform or persuade)

Audience • Look in the writing task for the audience • It might be an individual or a group • You write to an audience for reasons stated in the prompt • Consider what the audience needs to know, wants to know, and already knows • Imagine what questions they will have for you. Answer them in your writing.

Task: The Format • Look in the writing task for the mode: letter, feature article, editorial, speech • Follow the format • Letter has a date/return address, a greeting/salutation, a body, a closing, & a signature • Speeches, Editorials, and Articles have: titles, leads, bodies, conclusions

Constraints of On Demand Writing • • • Time (90 minutes *) Feedback (none) No collaboration Minimally authentic No sources outside of your personal knowledge on the topic

The Five-Paragraph Essay

Paragraph 1: Intro • Should have an engaging lead: introductory technique • Start broad and narrow down topic • Should include: • Background information • Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement • Indicates your paper’s topic • Identifies your position/stance on the topic-- your opinion in sentence form • Provides an overview of the three main supporting points that will unify the essay • Usually the last sentence in the intro

Paragraph 2: first Body Paragraph • Begins with a transition phrase and topic sentence that identifies the main idea • Has at least 3 supporting details • Statements/Examples • Reasons • Evidence • All of the sentences are on the same topic • Ends with a transition sentence

Transition Sentence • Usually found at the end of a body paragraph • Makes a clear connection from one paragraph to the other • Uses transition words or phrases • Is logical • Develops coherence in the essay

• • • First of all Secondly Third Next Then Afterwards In the morning In the evening Common Transition Phrases & Words • In addition • Also • More importantly • Finally • At last • Therefore • In summary • In conclusion

Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph 2 • Begins with a transition phrase and a topic sentence that identifies the main idea • Has at least 3 supporting details • Statements/Examples • Reasons • Evidence • All of the sentences are on the same topic • Ends with a transition sentence

Paragraph 4: Body Paragraph 3 • Begins with a transition phrase and a topic sentence that identifies the main idea • Has at least 3 supporting details • Statements/Examples • Reasons • Evidence • All of the sentences are on the same topic

Paragraph 5: The Conclusion • Restates thesis statement in different words (paraphrase) • Reiterates the 3 main ideas from the body paragraphs • Conclusion technique: Leave the reader with something to think about OR a call to action • DO NOT REPEAT THE SAME WORDING USED ELSEWHERE IN THE ESSAY