FCAT WRITES Tuesday, March 1, 2011

What is an Essay? An essay is a writing activity made up of paragraphs that focus around a specific topic. An essay has a beginning, middle, and an end. An essay is also focused, organized, has many supporting details, and uses proper conventions.

What is a Prompt? Prompts are written to elicit writing for specific purposes. Prompts to Florida's writing assessment are carefully selected to ensure that the subject matter will be interesting and appropriate for the students.

What is a Prompt? Continued Prompts have two basic components: the writing situation and directions for writing. The writing situation orients students to the subject on which they are to write. The directions-for-writing component sets the parameter for writing.

What is an Expository Prompt? What is a Narrative Prompt? Narrative is a type of writing that recounts a personal or fictional experience or tells a story based on a real or imagined event. What is an Expository Prompt? Expository is a type of writing that gives information, explain why or how, clarifies a process, or defines a concept.

How will writing be scored?

Writing Prompts Narrative Expository Everyone has had something funny happen to them. Think of something funny that has happened to you. Now write to tell story of a time when something funny happened to you. Everyone has a chore he doesn’t like to do. Think of a chore you don’t like to do. Now, write to explain why you don’t like your chore.

How to Read a Prompt Everyone has had something funny happen to them. Think of something funny that has happened to you. Now write to tell a story of a time when something funny happened to you.

How to Read a Prompt Everyone has a chore he doesn’t like to do. Think of a chore you don’t like to do. Now, write to explain why you don’t like your chore.

REMINDERS Read prompt twice or as many times as needed Look for signal words in the prompt Decide if you are writing a NARRATIVE or an EXPOSITORY essay Stop and think about the topic Organize your thoughts Plan your essay (Shouldn’t take longer than 7-10 minutes) Write your essay

Signal Words in Prompt The words “ write to tell a story” mean you are writing a narrative essay The words “write to explain” mean you are writing an expository essay

TELL a STORY EXPLAIN NARRATIVE EXPOSITORY

Let’s Practice

Let‘s see if you can detect the difference between an expository and a narrative prompt! _____Explain why all American citizens should vote. _____Which restaurant is your favorite? Explain why. _____Tell about the time you were attacked by a fierce tiger. _____Tell about a time when you found a shinny coin. _____Which holiday is your favorite? Explain why. _____Explain why kids should wear uniforms to school.

The day of the test: Tuesday, March 1, 2011 Students will not know ahead of time what type of prompt they will receive. They will have to identify if it is a Narrative or Expository Prompt. They will 45 minutes in total to plan and write their essay.

Your child can get a 6 on the writing test, but they must PRACTICE and follow some guidelines. Let’s read about all the writing tips .

Focus- Are all your sentences on the topic Focus- Are all your sentences on the topic? Does every sentence focus on the main idea? Does each paragraph support and develops the main idea? Organization- Does your essay have a beginning, middle, and end? Did you use transitional phrases to move from one point to another? Are your ideas connected to each other. Support- Did you support the main idea with vivid details and juicy descriptions? Did you use any figurative language and sizzling vocabulary to explain? Conventions- Did you capitalize and punctuate all sentences? Did you use sentence variety? Did you start some of your sentences differently? Did you spell most words correctly.

Expository Prompt Everyone has a favorite season. Think about your favorite season. Now, write to explain why this is your favorite season.

What Do You Do Now? Don’t panic Read prompt carefully Look for clue words to help you decide on the writing selection Stop and think about the topic Use your imagination and be creative The story does not have to be true, make it up Think of ways to impress your reader Use a graphic organizer to plan your essay Write your essay Use any time left over to check your writing and make corrections

Four Square Method A graphic organizer to help you plan your Expository Essay Reason One Great Weather warm and pleasant no jackets to wear stay outside play with friends bright sunshine get a tan Long day out Reason Two Sports Swimming pool, lake, beach baseball America’s pastime skating the neighborhood Neighborhood Reason Three Vacation travel visit relative sleep in don’t feel tired Relax no homework Camping trip Take away ending Summer is my favorite season

Narrative Prompt

Story Map A graphic organizer to help you plan your Narrative Essay Beginning: PROBLEM of STORY Include: Grabber Characters Setting Middle: STEPS TAKEN TO SOLVE PROBLEM Climax End: SOLUTION TO PROBLEM Lessons Learned Takeaway Ending

Thank You for Coming, Any Questions?