Review with students

Step 1 – Deconstructing the Prompt What are you being asked to write? Pass out the prompts and highlighters

Show What you Know… Deconstructing the Prompt What is PURPOSE? Purpose = What is your reason for writing the essay? What is your goal? What is FOCUS? Focus = What are you writing about…what is the topic?

Example Prompt #1 Write an informational essay on how language and communication have changed over time. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set. What is the purpose? What is the focus?

#1 Write an informational essay about the effects the Great Depression had on the people who lived through it. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set. What is the purpose? What is the focus?

#2 Write an informational essay that explains how hurricanes and tornadoes are alike and different. Your essay must be based on the ideas, concepts, and information contained in the passage set. What is the purpose? What is the focus?

#3 Write an informational essay on how transportation has changed over time. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set. What is the purpose? What is the focus?

#4 Your social studies class is researching both traditional and unexpected heroes. Using the information and examples found in the “Courage and Heroism” passage set, write an informative essay on what it means to be courageous. What is the purpose? What is the focus?

Step 2 – Planning for Success Keep it Organized!

Why should you plan? Why should you plan? Once students have broken down the prompt, they can decide how to set up their planning sheet. 9th & 10th Grade – To be successful, use both sides of your planning sheet – one side for gathering evidence and one side for essay structure. With 120 minutes, spend more time planning! There is not the same time crunch.

Demands of the Writing Prompt/Task Informative Argumentative Providing new knowledge/clarifying Defining Explaining a process – sequence Explaining how something has changed over time Comparing or contrasting different people/places/things Detailing components - describing Offering an explanation of a problem and possible solutions Explaining causes and their effects Formulating a claim Arguing for a position Acknowledging and refuting a counterclaim

Informative/Argumentative Writing Purpose, Focus and Organization Domains Domain: Informative/Argumentative Writing Purpose, Focus and Organization How vs. What is said – includes the process of writing Is it organized? Clear beginning, middle & end? Does it flow? Are there signs to indicate this? This is the “bones” of the skeleton

Informative/Argumentative Writing Evidence and Elaboration Domains Domain: Informative/Argumentative Writing Evidence and Elaboration What vs. How it’s said Things to consider: integration of source material – does the writer make it their own? facts & details – what is the depth of their elaboration? vocabulary – strong word choice vs. simple words quality & quantity of support sentence complexity

Example Prompt #1 Write an informational essay on how language and communication have changed over time. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set. What is the purpose? What is the focus? Structure - Sequence

Example Prompt Write an informational essay about the effects the Great Depression had on the people who lived through it. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set. What is the purpose? What is the focus? Structure – Cause & Effect

Example Prompt Write an informational essay that explains how hurricanes and tornadoes are alike and different. Your essay must be based on the ideas, concepts, and information contained in the passage set. What is the purpose? What is the focus? Structure – Compare & Contrast

Example Prompt Write an informational essay on how transportation has changed over time. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set. What is the purpose? What is the focus? Structure - Sequence

Example Prompt You have been asked to write an informational article on Machu Picchu for a website that focuses on travel to places of historical interest. Write an article that explains to tourists the significance of Machu Picchu as a travel destination. What is the purpose? What is the focus? Structure - Descriptive

Visiting Machu Picchu

Let’s Try it! One side for PFO One side for E & E

What to look for…