Grades 612

1

• Grades 6-12

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Prompt-Based Writing

• Students produce their first drafts during a
  prompt-based writing session.
• Background knowledge for writing will increase
  through more self-selected reading and
  subject-matter learning.
• Students must be placed in a supportive writing
  situation so that they can be successful in
  producing a particular type or style of writing.
• Teachers use well-crafted prompts and
  prompt-based writing sessions that place students
  in those supportive writing situations.

3
What is a prompt?

• A prompt is simply a brief, written statement of
  the writing assignment.
• It is the heart of a prompt-based writing
  session.

4
What are the ingredients of a well-crafted prompt?

• A prompt may have as many as five ingredients,
  but a good writing assignment only has to have
  one of these

5
What is a well-crafted prompt?
Audience to whom the writing should be directed
6
What is a well-crafted prompt?
Role who should seem to be speaking the words
that are written
7
What is a well-crafted prompt?

• Topic what the piece of writing should be about
  its content

8
What is a well-crafted prompt?
Genre the overall form the piece of writing
should take
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What is a well-crafted prompt?

• Starter Sentence the first sentence the writing
  should have (Sometimes only the first part of the
  first sentence is given.)

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What is a well-crafted prompt?

• Optional may include the required length, due
  date, and /or what will be done with the writing
  when finished.

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Caution

• Most of your prompts should include two to four
  of the five ingredients.
• If you have students not paying attention to the
  prompt, specify more of the ingredients in your
  prompts.
• It is not necessary to specify all five
  ingredients in a prompt, since only one will be
  the instructional focus.
• Feeling that you must include all five
  ingredients in your prompts is a dead end.

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Evaluating a Prompt

• Imagine that you have constructed the following
  prompt
• Write a letter to a friend. Tell your friend
  what you hope youll get for your birthday.
• Analyze it for the five ingredients

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Evaluating a Prompt

• Write a letter to a friend. Tell your friend
  what you hope youll get for your birthday.

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TENNESSEE GRADE 82006 WRITING PROMPT

•  READ THIS TOPIC CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BEGIN
  WRITING
•  
• Writing Situation Many young people would like
  to visit someplace new.
• If you could visit any place in the world, where
  would you like to go?  Why would you      choose
  that place?  Why would you want to go there?
• Directions for Writing Now explain in an essay
  where you would go and why.  Support your ideas
  with examples and details.
• Sample Papers

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TENNESSEE GRADE 112006 WRITING PROMPT

•  READ THIS TOPIC CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BEGIN
  WRITING
•  
• Many celebritiessuch as actors, musicians,
  models, or athletesmake a great deal of money. 
  Some people think celebrities make more money
  than they deserve.  Other people think
  celebrities wealth is deserved because of the
  enjoyment they bring to the public.
•  
• Do you agree or disagree that celebrities make
  more money than they deserve?
•  
• Now, write an essay in which you persuade the
  reader that your side of the issue is correct. 
  Use facts and examples to support your argument.
• Sample Papers

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Reference

• The Teacher's Guide to Big Blocks A multimethod,
  Multilevel Framework, Amanda Arens, Karen Loman,
  Patricia Cunningham, Dorothy Hall, 2005.