Grades 6-12

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.

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.

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:

What is a well-crafted prompt? Audience = to whom the writing should be directed

What is a well-crafted prompt? Role = who should seem to be “speaking” the words that are written

What is a well-crafted prompt? Topic = what the piece of writing should be about – its content

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

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.)

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.

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.

Evaluating a Prompt: Imagine that you have constructed the following prompt: “Write a letter to a friend. Tell your friend what you hope you’ll get for your birthday.” Analyze it for the five ingredients:

Evaluating a Prompt: “Write a letter to a friend. Tell your friend what you hope you’ll get for your birthday.”

TENNESSEE GRADE 8 2006 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

TENNESSEE GRADE 11 2006 WRITING PROMPT  READ THIS TOPIC CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BEGIN WRITING   Many celebrities—such as actors, musicians, models, or athletes—make 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

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