Writing on Demand Prompts Preparation for State Writing Assessments By Jennifer Findley

Writing on Demand Prompts Preparation for State Writing Assessments By Jennifer Findley

Table of Contents Resource Page Analysis of a Prompt Poster 4 Analysis of a Prompt Practice (2 Handouts) 5-6 Type Matters Poster 7 What s the Type? Prove it! (2 Handouts) 8-9 Prompt Type Sort 10-16 Stay on Topic 18 Manage your Time! 19 Organizer Options for Each Type of Writing 20-23 Conference and Plan Printables 24-25 Tips to Parents and Student Conferences 27-30 Jennifer Findley

The All Important Prompt! These next few pages are all focused around one thing: the PROMPT! The printables and posters review how to analyze a prompt and how to determine the type of writing required by the prompt.

Analysis of a Prompt Look for key words that answer these questions for you: What is your text supposed to be about? Who is your audience? What type of writing is this? Some people think that students should exercise on a regular basis. Write an essay expressing your opinion on the importance of exercise. The audience is not clear; however, I can infer that I am writing this paper to convince someone of my opinion of exercise for students. I do not think I am writing this paper to other students. Jennifer Findley

Analysis of a Prompt Practice Name: Date: Analyze each prompt. Determine what the text is supposed to be about, your audience, and the type of writing. Imagine if everyone lived in underground caves. Write a story about what life would be like if you lived underground in a cave. Learning a new task can be difficult. Write a how-to paper teaching someone your age to complete a task that you are very knowledgeable about. You have been chosen by your school to make a menu for a special lunch with parents. Write a report for your school that describes your ideas for this special lunch for parents. Your principal is currently taking applications for students to become the principal s helper for a day. Write a letter to your principal about the student you think the principal should choose. Convince the principal to select this student. Jennifer Findley

Analysis of a Prompt Practice Name: Date: Analyze each prompt. Determine what the text is supposed to be about, your audience, and the type of writing. Being lost can be a frightening experience for a child. Write about a time you were lost. Be sure to include descriptive details in your story. Your school is considering selling soft drinks in the cafeteria. However, the local school board is against it. Write to convince the school board to allow your school to sell soft drinks. Often young children do not know how to be safe at home and in their neighborhood. Write a report teaching a younger child how to be safe at home and in their neighborhood. A new student has just arrived from another country. It is your birthday week, and the child is confused about how birthdays are celebrated in their new country. Write the new student a story about how you spent your birthday last year. Jennifer Findley

The type of writing that you use matters! If you write using the wrong type, you will not fulfill the requirements of the prompt. Use this key words chart to help you determine the type of writing required by each prompt. Narrative Persuasive Informational Pretend Imagine Tell about a time you Tell about your experience Convince Give your opinion.. Choose a point of view What is your position on Argue for or against Defend Explain Define Compare and contrast Write a report on Write to teach Write explaining how to. Jennifer Findley

What s the type? Prove it! Name: Date: Analyze each prompt. Look for key words that help you determine what type of writing is required. Some people think having a pet snake would be a terrible idea. Write to convince those people that snakes are a perfectly acceptable pet. Type of Writing: Evidence: Spending time with your family can be entertaining or boring. Write about a experience you had with your family that was highly entertaining. Type of Writing: Evidence: Children often don t understand how to pay attention in class. Explain to students your age how to correctly pay attention. Type of Writing: Evidence: Jennifer Findley

What s the type? Prove it! Name: Date: Analyze each prompt. Look for key words that help you determine what type of writing is required. Two students are debating about the importance of having gym daily. Take the point of view of the student wanting gym daily. Write to convince the other student of this point of view. Type of Writing: Evidence: You are walking down the hall to your class. Suddenly, you hear a loud noise. Write about what happens next. Type of Writing: Evidence: Many aspects of life have changed since your ancestors were your age. One aspect in particular is communication. Describe how communication has changed in the past 50 or so years. Type of Writing: Evidence: Jennifer Findley

Directions: Read each prompt. Determine the type of writing required by each. Sort the prompts accordingly. Jennifer Findley

Persuasive Narrative Informational

You have been chosen by a local company to create a new product. The product could be a toy or a game. Write a report for the company that describes your idea. You are learning how to stay healthy at school. Think about all the different foods and exercises that can help students stay healthy. Write a report to your fellow students explaining how to stay healthy. 1 2 Everyone has a special person that they love and admire. Think about the special person in your life. Write a story about one day you spent with this special person. Your school has won a chance to make over your playground. Your task is to choose one type of playground equipment that you want to be included. Write to convince your principal to choose the type of equipment you want. 3 4 Some people think that school days should be shorter. Write to explain your position on whether school days should be shorter. While visiting the park with your friends, you find a key. Write a story about the adventure you and your friends go on to find what that key unlocks. 5 6

Reading to children is very important to their learning. Explain how you should read a book to child. You have just won a free vacation for you and your family. Choose a place you would like to go. Write to your family to persuade them to agree with your choice. 7 8 Think about a time you were brave. Perhaps you had to stand up for a friend, speak in front of a class, or do something that was difficult. Write about what happened. People enjoying vacationing in many different climates. Compare and contrast a vacation in a cold climate and a vacation in a warm climate. 9 10 Imagine you find a mysterious map in the bathroom under a broken tile in the floor. The map gives instructions to a secret room at your school. Write about your search for the secret room. Write a letter to someone who has just moved into your neighborhood. Explain what attractions or interesting places there are to visit in your town and state. 11 12

Think about a person that is very important to you or that you admire. Write a biography about the person. Include as many details about their life as you can. Think about where your class currently goes for recess. Write a letter to your teacher persuading him or her to allow your class to enjoy recess in another location. 13 14 Many legislatures are considering year round schools. What is your position on this topic? Write an opinion piece that clearly supports your position. Imagine you are given the opportunity to trade places with anyone at school for the day. Write a story about what happens when you trade place with someone at your school. 15 16 Think about something you are good at doing. Write a how-to paper explaining to someone else how do what you are good at. While babysitting your younger sibling, you hear a knock at the door. Write about happens next. 17 18

Name: Date: After analyzing each prompt and sorting them, record the number on the card under the correct heading. Also, write your evidence. Persuasive Narrative Informational

Answer Key Name: Date: After analyzing each prompt and sorting them, record the number on the card under the correct heading. Also, write your evidence. Persuasive Narrative Informational 4 3 1 5 6 2 8 9 7 14 1 1 10 15 16 12 18 13 17

Other Important Reminder Posters

When writing to a prompt, it is very important that you stay on the assigned topic. Here are some tips to help make sure you stay on topic: Circle or underline key words in the prompt to make sure you clearly understand the topic. Plan your writing. Take a few moments before you begin writing to quickly plan out your thoughts. Take short breaks from writing to re-read the prompt to make sure you are still focused on the topic.

Managing your time is very important! Here are some tips to help you make the most of your time! Read the prompt and make sure you understand it before you begin. Plan ahead. Focus your time on the middle of your paper. Make sure your paper is neat and easy to read. This will save time when you proofread. Keep track of your time. Save time to read over and correct mistakes.

Organizer Options for each type of Writing Use these posters to remind the students of all the different organizers they can use to organize their thoughts and plan ahead. These printables can also be sent home with the children to help their parents assist them in brainstorming and planning their ideas.

B M E

Yes No Opinion Reason Support reason Support reason Support Opinion For Against 3reasons Evidence opinion

1 2 3

Conference and Plan Printables I use the Writing Conference printable at least 2 weeks before the actual writing exam. This gives the students time to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, and it gives them (and the teacher) time to work on them. We complete the My Writing Plan the week of or the week before, depending on the day that the exam falls. In the past, I have done it as early as two days before the exam.

Name: Date: Read and answer each question. 1. How do you feel about your writing as of today? 2. What do you feel is you greatest strength as a writer? 3. What do you feel you need to work on the most as a writer? 4. What is your plan to help you with what you answered in #3? 5. How can I help you with what you answered in #3?

Name: Date: Read and answer each question. 1. How will make sure you write the correct type of writing required? 2. How will you make sure you stay on topic? 3. How will you make sure you manage your time? 4. How will you make sure this writing is the best example of your work? 5. What other goals do you have for the writing assessment?

Tips to Parents and Student Certificates The next three pages include tips to send home to parents to help prepare their child, and writing certificates to give to the students after the assessment is over. For the tips to parents, I have included two different handouts to be used at different times. The In 1 Month printable is to be given approximately one month before the exam. This will give parents ideas of how to help their child prepare in the next month. The Preparing for the Writing Assessment is your basic day before and day of tips.

In 1 Month Your child will be taking a state writing assessment in one month. Here are some things you can do in the 2 weeks to help them prepare: Have your child keep a journal and write in it daily. Write with your child. You can write stories, informational papers, or opinion papers. Ask your child questions about his or her writing. Look over and correct your child s writing together.

Preparing for the Writing Assessment Get a good night s sleep the night before the test. Eat breakfast the day of the writing test. Dress in comfortable clothes. Arrive on time. Be positive!

You ROCKED THE WRITING ASSESSMENT! I am so proud of you! To: From: Date: You ROCKED THE WRITING ASSESSMENT! I am so proud of you! To: From: Date:

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