On Demand Writing

1. On Demand Writing

2. What Is “On Demand Writing”? On demand writing, or timed writing, is writing that takes place during a brief timeframe. It assesses the writing someone produces under a time constraint.

3. Problems Students Have I’m nervous about my time limit. I don’t like the topic. I get distracted. I can’t ask anybody else to check it for me. I feel overwhelmed. I don’t understand the topic.

4. Reasons for Timed Writing You will have essay exams • in college. • to get out of college. • to get into graduate school. and you may be asked • to provide a writing sample to a future employer.

5. Purpose of Timed Writing It shows that you • think quickly and critically. • organize your ideas. • solve problems. • clearly communicate ideas. • have strong writing skills.

6. Steps to Successful Timed Writing A— Attack the prompt. B— Brainstorm possible answers. C— Choose the order of your response. D— Detect errors before turning it in. • Modified from: Gallagher, Kelly. Teaching Adolescent Writers. Portland, ME: Stenhouse, 2006. Print.

7. Attack the Prompt Cross out words you don’t need. Circle words that tell you to do something Underline what it specifically asks you to do

8. It’s Your Turn! Attack the following scholarship prompt: Do-Over Scholarship 2012 ScholarshipExperts.com is again offering the Do-Over Scholarship in 2012. One scholarship recipient will be chosen to receive a $1,500 scholarship Applicants must: Be thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of application Be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia Be currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2018) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education Submit an online short written response (250 words or less) for the topic:“If you could get one ‘do-over,’ in life, what would it be and why?”

9. It’s Your Turn! Example Attacked Prompt: Do-Over Scholarship 2012 ScholarshipExperts.com is again offering the Do-Over Scholarship in 2012. One scholarship recipient will be chosen to receive a $1,500 scholarship Applicants must: Be thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of application Be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia Be currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2018) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education Submit an online short written response (250 words or less) for the topic:“If you could get one ‘do-over,’ in life, what would it be and why?”

10. Brainstorm Possible Answers • Base your brainstorming on the information you gathered from your prompt. • Use any technique you like (freewriting, listing, clustering, questioning, etc.). • Write your thesis and topic sentences. • Think of specific examples.

11. It’s Your Turn! Now, brainstorm answers for the prompt: Do-Over Scholarship 2012 ScholarshipExperts.com is again offering the Do-Over Scholarship in 2012. One scholarship recipient will be chosen to receive a $1,500 scholarship Applicants must: Be thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of application Be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia Be currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2018) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education Submit an online short written response (250 words or less) for the topic:“If you could get one ‘do-over,’ in life, what would it be and why?”

12. It’s Your Turn! Example Brainstormed Answers: What?: studying more in high school Why?: I could’ve made better grades and earned scholarships. Thesis: If I could go back to high school, I would study more so that I could earn better grades that would qualify me for more scholarships. Topic Sentences: My friends and I could have formed study groups instead of only partying all the time. The majority of my senior year was spent having fun with my friends. Now that I am in college, I realize I should have spent more time on my school work. Examples: Senior Skip Day-missing important tests not doing my best at the math competition because my friends were there and we wanted to explore a college campus instead not doing homework

13. Choose the Order of Your Response • Order your response logically. • Choose transitional words (in addition, whereas, therefore, for example, to conclude, in brief, indeed, subsequently, etc.).

14. It’s Your Turn! Next, choose the order of this response. Topic Sentences: My friends and I could have formed study groups instead of only partying all the time. The majority of my senior year was spent having fun with my friends. Now that I am in college, I realize I should have spent more time on my school work. Examples: Senior Skip Day-missing important tests not doing my best at the math competition because my friends were there and we wanted to explore a college campus instead not doing homework

15. It’s Your Turn! Example Order: • The majority of my senior year was spent having fun with my friends. -For example, I stopped doing homework halfway through my senior year. -In addition, I chose to participate in Senior Skip Day and missed several important tests scheduled for that day. -Finally, I did not do my best at the math competition because my friends were there and we wanted to explore a college campus instead. 2. Now that I am in college, I realize I should have spent more time on my school work. 3. My friends and I could have formed study groups instead of only partying all the time.

16. Detect Your Errors • Spelling • Punctuation • Grammar • Neatness

17. It’s Your Turn! Once you’ve drafted your paper, detect errors in your draft.

18. Continue to Practice • A Google search for “practice writing prompts” brings up practice ACT, SAT, and journal writing prompts as well as other writing prompts that have been assigned in classrooms of various grade levels, including college. • Use these to practice, or use other scholarship prompts at such sites as scholarshipexperts.com. • Timed writing will become more comfortable with practice!

19. Don’t forget: print the handout that goes with this presentation! Please complete a survey on this tutorial. For more information about writing on demand or for help with other writing concerns, come to TSU’s Writing Center. Visit room 300 in the Learning Resources Center or call 615.963.5102 to make an appointment.