Breaking Down Writing Prompts

Standard of Performance W.6.5 – With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.

Objective: I can analyze a writing prompt and effectively break it apart in order to understand what I am supposed to write about with 80% accuracy.

Why do we need to break down the prompt? In order to understand what to write, first you must understand what the writing prompt is asking you to do. Certain strategies will help you break apart the prompt and understand who you are writing for, what you are expected to write, and what elements should be included in your composition or essay.

Step 1: Make a T bar and label as shown ____DO____________WHAT________

STEP 2: Read the prompt underline the verb or verbs that tell you what to do Prompt: Most families assign chores to their teenagers. Many teens object to having these chores imposed on them. State your position on the matter. Do you think teens should or should not have chores? Cite examples explaining why or why not teens should have chores. Explain each of your reasons clearly and concisely. (Place your verbs in the “What” column of the T-bar)

Step 3: Fill in the T-bar with the verbs _____WHAT_______TO DO___________ State Cite Explain

Step 4: Underline what you are supposed to do after the verb Prompt: Most families assign chores to their teenagers. Many teens object to having these chores imposed on them. State your position on the matter. Do you think teens should or should not have chores? Cite examples explaining why or why not students should have chores. Explain each of your reasons clearly and concisely.

Step 5: Fill in the T bar with the ”To Do” _____WHAT_______TO DO___________ State your position Cite examples Explain each of your reasons

Let’s Practice 1 Prompt: In Europe, the driving age is 18 because those governments feel that teens are not mature enough to handle the responsibility and the rules of driving in order to avoid accidents. In America, the driving age is still 16. Some people would like to raise the driving age in America to 18. What do you think? State your position on this topic. Explain several reasons why or why not it would be a good idea to change the age. Look at the charts provided and draw information that you can use in your paragraph to support your position.

Let’s Practice 2: Prompt: Students complain about having too much homework. They feel that they are overburderned and spend too many hours each night engaged in completing homework or projects and studying for exams. State your position on the topic. Cite clear examples that support your position. Conduct research to find additional information and statistics that support your position. Write an essay to persuade others to accept your position.

Let’s Practice 3: Prompt: Your school is going to grant your grade level one privilege that other grades in your school will not have. Think about the privilege your grade should have. Write three possible privileges you think your class would like best. Describe each privilege in a clear and concise manner. Explain why your class would like each privilege. Cite evidence and proof that your grade level would want these privileges. Write a persuasive essay to convince the administrators of the school that the privileges that you chose should acted upon.