6+1 Writing To a Prompt Writing With a Purpose

1. 6+1 Writing To a PromptWriting With a Purpose RAFTS Ashley Jimerson

2. Essential Question How can I use writing prompts to guide my students’ writing?

3. Activating Strategy Who’s in the HOT SEAT?

4. Most assignments from school are written from the student’s point of view and are expected to be read by the teacher. Would it require students to think more critically if we had them write from another point of view other than their own?

5. RAFTS “If students are to make knowledge their own, they must struggle with the details, wrestle with the facts, and rework raw information and dimly understood concepts into language they can communicate to someone else. In short, if students are to learn, they must write.” Shellard & Protheroe, 2004

6. RAFTS R:Role What is the writer’s role? A:Audience Who will be reading the writing? F:Format What is the best way to present this writing? T:Topic Who or what is the subject of this writing? S: Strong Verb What is the purpose of the writing?

7. Role • Like an actor, a writer in this task must become another person...just temporarily. 

8. Audience • Think of a bigger AUDIENCE.  • The writer needs to craft his/her words and thoughts for the person or people the writer imagines to be reading it.

9. Format • People write more than just essays and book reports in the real world.  • Choose a FORMAT that makes sense with your chosen Role and Audience. 

10. Topic • This is what your writing will be about.  • Student choice • Teacher directed • Think about your standards

11. Strong Verb • The verb you choose will help you determine the purpose of the writing.  Writing without purpose is flat and dull. 

12. Practice Time You are a mathematician with strong opinions about students not learning their decimals early enough.  Because of your expertise, you have been asked to answer questions in front of a Senate hearing committee that will determine if government funding is provided for a change to the educational system.  Before answering any questions, you have been asked to read a three-minute statement that introduces your passion to this topic.   Write your three-minute statement so that it inspires the committee to provide you with millions of dollars to fund this change.

13. How did you do? You are a mathematician with strong opinions about students not learning their decimals early enough.  Because of your expertise, you have been asked to answer questions in front of a Senate hearing committee that will determine if government funding is provided for a change to the educational system.  Before answering any questions, you have been asked to read a three-minute statement that introduces your passion to this topic.   Write your three-minute statement so that it inspires the committee to provide you with millions of dollars to fund this change.

14. How do I create a RAFTS? • Pick a topic • Consider how writing in a fun way might enhance student’s understanding. • Brainstorm roles • Decide the audience • Decide the format • What verb will they use from the standards? RAFTS Rubric

15. Your choice • Students create the prompt • Students highlight: • Role • Audience • Format • Topic • Strong verb RAFTS creates a roadmap for the students. It focuses the paper and gives it purpose.

16. Sample RAFTS

17. Your turn… Kindergarten Informational ELAKW1 Writing The student begins to understand the principles of writing. R: Excited K student A: Classmates F: Comic Strip T: YOU! S: Tell You are an excited kindergarten student who has just learned to write. You want to tell your class all about YOU! Draw a picture of 2 things that might tell more about you. Also, write in the comic strip to tell about each picture.

18. Your turn… ELA1W1.l Writing Process Uses appropriate end punctuation (period and question mark) and correct capitalization of initial words and common proper nouns (e.g., personal names, months). R: End Mark A: Students F: a song T: the importance S: tell a story You are an end mark who is wants to tell studentshow important you are. Design a song that tells the story of your uses and how important you are. Be sure to work with your back-up singers for support! First Grade Narrative

19. Your turn… ELA4W2.b Response to Literature Advances a judgment that is interpretive, evaluative, or reflective. R: book buyer A: Mark Teague F: business letter T: Detective LaRue and the Missing Shoe S: evaluate the book You are a book buyer from Barnes and Noble who is wants to buy more Mark Teague books for your store. You have read Mark Teague’s latest book Detective LaRueand feel you need to offer some suggestions to make the book better. Write a business letter to Mark Teague telling him your opinion or evaluation of his latest book. Tell him if it is worthy of buying for your book store and if not, how it might be improved. Fourth Grade Response to Literature

20. ELA2W1.e Writing Process Begins to use appropriate formatting conventions for letter writing (e.g., date, salutation, body, closing). MUS.2.4.4 Analyze Musical Elements [details] The learner will be able to use appropriate vocabulary to describe melody, tempo, and dynamics. R: music writer A: New York Symphony F: friendly letter T: music selection for the next concert S: inform them of your selection You have just become the musical writer for the New York Symphony’s next concert. Your job is to write music for the symphony to play. Write a friendly letter to the New York Symphony informing them of your music selection for their next concert. Remember you have chosen these pieces for their melody, tempo, and dynamics! Music 2nd Grade Informational Writing

21. As a Team… • Create a RAFTS Prompt for your next 9-weeks writing standard. • List standard(s), RAFTS, and prompt • Try to incorporate science, social studies, etc. • Prepare for a safari walk to showcase your RAFTS!!