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Writing On Demand
Preparing for 8th grade
assessment
Steps to make the right choice and give your best response in the
correct mode/form
Using your time wisely (60 minutes)
5 mins: Read both prompts carefully and complete short prewriting on both, e.g., identify key words, list ideas
10 mins: Choose prompt for which you have the most ideas and then complete full pre-write
15 mins: Write first draft 15 mins: Revise first draft, making it clear
and complete; edit your work to make it correct
15 mins: Write final draft
Let’s practiceWriting to Persuade
Prompt Number OneSITUATION: Your site-based council is
considering whether or not to sell junk food to students as snacks. They like the money it makes for the school, but worry about students’ health.
WRITING TASK: Think about what you’d like to see the school do about snack sales. Write a speech to the site-based council with your suggestions. Convince them to follow your advice.
Prompt Number TwoSITUATION: Parents across the country are
concerned that their children spend too much time playing video games.
WRITING TASK: Write an editorial for a parenting magazine expressing your opinion about the time spent playing video games and convincing parents to accept your opinion.
Cubing the SPAM!
Step One:Identify what you are being asked to do
SPAM: Situation, Purpose, Audience, and Mode/Form
Circle Situation Underline Purpose Box Audience Encircle Mode/form with (parenthesis)
For example…
SITUATION: Your site-based council is considering whether or not to sell junk food to students as snacks. They like the money this makes for the school, but worry about students’ health.
WRITING TASK: Think about what you’d like to see the school do about snack sales. Write a (speech) to the site-based council with your suggestions. Convince them to follow your advice.
audience
situation
purpose
mode/form
SITUATION: Parents across the country are concerned that their children spend too much time playing video games.
TASK: Write (an editorial) for the readers of a parenting magazine expressing your opinion about the time spent playing video games and convincing parents to accept your opinion.
Step two: Identifying Key Words Key words are found in the situation of the
writing prompts. Key words help you write the introductory
paragraph of your response. Key words help your audience focus on the
main ideas of your response.
Step Two: Identify key words
Your site-based council is considering whether or not to sell junk food to students as snacks. They like the money this makes for the school but worry about students’ health.
Identifying key words…
Parents across the country are concerned that their children
spend too much time playing video games.
Step three: List IdeasSnack Sales -- Junk food
PROs
Money maker for
school
CONs
Two much sugar and fat not good for health
Contributes to obesity Quick energy fix doesn’t last Affects paying attention Tastes good and makes you want
more
Time spent playing video games
Advantages
Fun way to spend time Developing game
strategies helps ability to think
Disadvantages
Can become obsession
Homework can be neglected
Relationships can suffer
Step four: Time to decide… What topic do you know the most about?
or What topic do you know the most about
and which one appeals to you the most?
Important points to keep in mind Audience: whom are you trying to convince? Purpose: what are you trying to persuade your
reader(s) to do, think or believe? Idea Development: use facts and/or opinions to
support your ideas Organization: make sure you stick to the required
mode/form (letter, article, editorial, speech) and you guide your reader with transitions from one idea to the next
MakingA
Point
Main Idea#1
Main Idea#2
Main Idea#3
SupportingDetail
Supporting detail
Supportingdetail
Supportingdetail
Supportingdetail
Supportingdetail
Supportingdetail
Supportingdetail
Supporting detail
Drafting/Revising Use your prewriting as a guide Engage your reader with a lead Make revisions as you write Anticipate your reader’s questions to
guide your writing Stay focused on your purpose Make sure you’ve convinced your reader
with an effective conclusion
EditingMake sure: Your sentences are varied and complete You have used language appropriate for
your reader and purpose Your spelling is correct You have used correct punctuation
Persuasive Writing Resources
Persuasive map:http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/persuasion_map/
Webquest TV or Not TV That is the Question
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/viersmilles/greenl/tvturnoff.html
Adapted from the work of Donna Vincent, Language Arts Consultant, Muhlenberg County Schools
by
Jennifer Bernhard
Literacy Specialist
Clark County Schools
