Deconstructing a Writing Prompt: Exploring the Benefits of Social Media for Teens

1. VOICE LEVEL = ZERO 19 March 2019 • Copy down your agenda for the WHOLE WEEK: 2. Next, complete your C-WOW housein your notebook for the word benevolent.

2. Definition ROUTINE REMINDERS Necessary materials. Backpack in cubby. Sharpen pencil now. Sit in your seat. Copy down the mentor sentence and change your hypothesis to fit. • After you’ve filled out your agenda for the whole week, complete your C-WOW house in your notebook. • When you finish, silently and independently complete page 15 in your NBTT packet. Use complete sentences! • All done? Read silently. If your house is haunted, you hope that it’s a benevolent spirit (and not a malevolent one). Hypothesis PrefixesSuffixes • bene • Latin root for “well” • benevolent There IS one!

3. ROUTINE REMINDERS Copy this down exactly as I wrote it Necessary materials. Backpack in cubby. Sharpen pencil now. Sit in your seat. • (adj) • well meaning and kindly. • After you’ve filled out your agenda for the whole week, complete your C-WOW house in your notebook. • When you finish, silently and independently complete page 15 in your NBTT packet. Use complete sentences! • All done? Read silently. If your house is haunted, you hope that it’s a benevolent spirit (and not a malevolent one). Hypothesis PrefixesSuffixes • bene • Latin root for “well” -ent indication • benevolent

4. Today’s Learning Targets • We will determine the meaning of unknown words. • We will understand what it means to deconstruct a prompt. • We will deconstruct a writing prompt, identifying the verbs, what we are asked to do and the intended audience.

5. Deconstructing a Prompt • When I first see a prompt for an in-class essay or assessment, what steps do I take before I begin writing? • What does it mean to deconstruct a prompt? • Take it apart • Understand what you need to do • Determine how to respond to the prompt correctly • Please turn to the next blank page in your ELA notebook and title it “Deconstructing a Prompt”

6. 1. Determine what the prompt is asking you to do. a. Turn questions into statements b. Circle the verbs c. Underline what you are asked to do Deconstructing a Prompt Melissa Healy offers a perspective on social media that challenges a common assumption among adults that constant “electronic chatter” produces teens who are socially underdeveloped and withdrawn. Write an essay for a parent magazine explaining how you and your friends use social network. Using your own experience and the research in Melissa Healy’s article, construct an argument for social media sites. Make clear for parents how teens could benefit from spending their time in the “digital world.”

7. 2. Number the circled verbs in an order that makes sense to you and the reader. Deconstructing a Prompt Melissa Healy offers a perspective on social media that challenges a common assumption among adults that constant “electronic chatter” produces teens who are socially underdeveloped and withdrawn. Write an essay for a parent magazine explaining how you and your friends use social network. Using your own experience and the research in Melissa Healy’s article, construct an argument for social media sites. Make clear for parents how teens could benefit from spending their time in the “digital world.” 2 1 3

8. 3. Determine the intended audience. • Draw a box around the intended audience, if stated. • If the intended audience is suggested, write the audience in the margin and draw a box around it. • If the audience is not specified or suggested, write to an academic audience. Melissa Healy offers a perspective on social media that challenges a common assumption among adults that constant “electronic chatter” produces teens who are socially underdeveloped and withdrawn. Write an essay for a parent magazine explaining how you and your friends use social network. Using your own experience and the research in Melissa Healy’s article, construct an argument for social media sites. Make clear for parents how teens could benefit from spending their time in the “digital world.” 2 1 3

9. 4. Determine the sources you are to use and write the name of that source next to the prompt. Deconstructing a Prompt – cont. Melissa Healy offers a perspective on social media that challenges a common assumption among adults that constant “electronic chatter” produces teens who are socially underdeveloped and withdrawn. Write an essay for a parent magazine explaining how you and your friends use social network. Using your own experience and the research in Melissa Healy’s article, construct an argument for social media sites. Make clear for parents how teens could benefit from spending their time in the “digital world.” 2 1 3 Sources: Healy’s text and personal experience

10. Verbs in Prompts • In your notebook, cut out and paste the “Verbs in Prompts” handout on the next blank page. • Review, color code and annotate the definitions. • Use this list of verbs to help you better understand what prompts are asking you to do.

11. Deconstructing a Prompt - Practice • Please write down the following prompt in your notebook: What problem does Renee Schoof introduce in her article, “Warmer oceans taking toll on world’s coral reefs”? Explain the leading causes of the problem and account for the most significant effects. As part of your paper, identify and summarize the solution(s) to the problem. Does Renee Schoof seem optimistic? Explain. • Following along with the video, analyzing and marking the prompt in your notebook.

12. Deconstructing a Prompt – Independent Practice • Please write down the following prompt in your notebook: The editorial, “Teens are going to extremes with texting,” focuses on teen use of text messaging. Write an essay analyzing how the author develops the main argument in the editorial. Use evidence from the editorial to support your response. • Independently, deconstruct/analyze the writing prompt by using the four steps listed in your notes. • Complete the “Dissect a Prompt” worksheet as homework. Due Thursday, March 21st.