Reading and Interpreting Writing Prompts

1. Reading and Interpreting Writing Prompts

2. Understanding the Writing Topic: State Slide • All Grade 8 writing topics contain two sections – the Writing Situation and the Directions for Writing. • The Writing Situation gives the background for the writing assignment. The first sentence of the Writing Situation introduces the general topic. • The Writing Directions tell what type of assignment is to be written. It also contains the formal topic.

3. Reader Concerns State Slide Reader Concerns are the expectations a reader brings to a piece of writing. General reader concerns: A readers needs enough information to understand the writer’s purpose and message. What was the purpose of that last prompt? A reader should be able to read a paper without knowing the assigned prompt or assigned genre and be able to identify the writer’s purpose. A reader should be able to tell if he/she is reading a report or an argument. This speaks to the GENRE. Expository has no opinions!

4. Writing SituationWater – How would we survive without clean drinking water? The Chattahoochee Water Conservation Group has asked you to become a River Keeper member. You must design a letter to public the encouraging them to protect and conserve our water supply. Directions for Writing Write a letter that will be mailed to the public to encourage their support of the water conservation movement. Be sure you include the benefits of becoming an eco-friendly member of society. Remember to use specific details to support and explain your reasons. Make your letter interesting and engaging.

5. Other Important Information “Remember to use specific details to support and explain your reasons.” In other words, BACK IT UP! NO, BECAUSE I SAID SO! “Make your letter interesting and engaging.” Choose adjectives carefully Keep your audience in mind as you SPEAK TO THEM. Also – Be sure you address possible counter arguments that your reader may have in their mind!

6. Make it a RAFT • Role: You are a River Keeper / Conservationist • to become a River Keeper member • Audience: The Public • to public the • Format: A letter of encouragement • Write a letter that will be mailed to the public • TOPIC: support the water conservation movement. Be sure you include the benefits of becoming an eco-friendly member of society.

7. Depth of Development Controlling Idea Supporting Ideas P1 Major Details P2 P3s Specific Examples And Elaboration State Slide!

8. Did someone say Power Writing? P1: Benefit for them #1 save $ P2: using less water = lower water bill P3: turn off while brushing P3: combine laundry load if possible P3: take shorter showers P2: save on electric bill P3: combined loads = less hot water P3: shorter showers also require less hot water The P3s backup/support/fill out the ideas! The for them speaks to your audience.

9. Use Counter Arguments Hook & Introduction Introduce the product and address your audience This could be the place for a personal anecdote. Supporting Statement #1 P3 – facts P3 – statistics P3 – evidence P3 – examples to back up statement Supporting Statement #2 P3 – facts P3 – statistics P3 – evidence P3 – examples to back up statement Audience Concerns counter the cons the audience may be able to think of. Choose the one, largest con and defend your position. Create a conclusion that does NOT repeat your ideas but continues to draw in the audience and make call to action!

10. The Components of Style STATE SLIDE: Remember, it isn’t always what you say, it is how you say it. Addressing concerns assists with AUDIENCE AWARENESS. It also gives you VOICE. Style: The degree to which the writer controls language to engage the reader.

11. Persuasive Writing Emotional Appeals Figurative Language Connotative Meanings Evocative Voice Rhetorical Questions; “What kinds of television shows do kids want?” Addressing the reader: “You should” or “We all should” Genre Appropriate Strategies STATE SLIDE: What strategy did you use? Did you address the audience to engage/pull them into your paper? Were you convincing?

12. Writing Situation Your favorite television show has been cancelled. The president of the television network has announced that he might change his mind about canceling the show if enough people write letters to complain about his decision. Directions for Writing Write a letter to the president of the television network to convince him or her to not to cancel your favorite show. Include specific details to support your position. RAFT it and Outline it! 12

13. The Anecdote –noun a short account of a particular incident or event of an interesting or amusing nature, often biographical. These are good for the introduction and/or the conclusion. The state wants you to connect with your read AND THEN keep them engaged throughout the paper.

14. Writing Situation Your favorite television show has been cancelled. The president of the television network has announced that he might change his mind about canceling the show if enough people write letters to complain about his decision. Directions for Writing Write a letter to the president of the television network to convince him or her to not to cancel your favorite show. Include specific details to support your position. We Went RAFTing! How do I figure out what to write? Analyze the Prompt for: Role (Who am I? ) A fan of a TV Show Audience (To whom am I writing?) The Network President - formal tones Format (Is it an expository report or a persuasive letter?) Persuasive Letter Topic (What is it really asking me to address?) Convincing reasons not to cancel my favorite TV show! 14

15. Intro: address audience, discuss family happiness while watching show AKA – the anecdote, bring it back P1 – Don’t cancel yet, give it a chance P2 – Needs more time to grow fan base P3 – Look at 24 – it took time to catch on P3 – Look at My Name is Earl – it, too was not an instant success P2 – Word of mouth has just started P3 – People @ the water cooler P3 – People @ the baseball park

16. Let’s Practice: RAFT it & Outline it! Sample Persuasive Writing Topic Writing Situation Many school systems do not allow students to carry backpacks to class. They are seen as a danger due to someone tripping over them or someone carrying a concealed weapon. Your system is currently reviewing this policy Directions for Writing Write a letter to the school superintendent convincing him that student should or should not carry backpacks to class. Be sure to support your ideas with specific examples.

17. Let’s Practice: RAFT it & Outline it! Writing Situation Your class is being given the opportunity to design a new building for your city. The building could be a hotel, stadium, store, museum, etc. An architectural design committee has been formed to review your building plans and ideas. Directions for Writing Write a letter to the mayor of the city that will explain your idea for your building as well as your design. Be sure to include specific details that describe your design in appearance as well as function. Convince the mayor to include your building in the city.

18. Summative Assessment Writing Situation You are a cell phone owner. All services providers are releasing cell phone numbers to telemarketing companies next month, and you will begin to receive sales calls. In that these are incoming calls, you will charged minutes for these. Even if the call goes to voicemail, you will use minutes listening to and deleting them. Directions for Writing Write a letter to your cell phone provider convincing them of the importance of not releasing their list of numbers to telemarketers. Be sure to validate your opinion with specific examples and reasons.