O N -DEMAND W RITING E LEMENTARY 2012 W ENDY H ERTZENBERG I NSTRUCTIONAL C OACH S OUTHERN E LEMENTARY

O N -D EMAND W RITING IS … A timed assessment given to test your writing skills An opportunity for you to show how well you can persuade inform narrate an event to inform persuade Your chance to show how well you can write a letter or an article for a specified audience

FAP IT!!! On Demand Writing Steps to make the right choice and give your best response…

W HAT IS FAP? FAP stands for FORM, AUDIENCE, and PURPOSE. It is used to organize the information that you will see in the OD test prompts. You will find FAP in the writing task of the prompts.

F IS FOR FORM WHAT are you writing? You will be given the form in the writing task. The two FORMS are letter and article.

A IS FOR AUDIENCE To WHOM are you writing? You will be given the AUDIENCE in the writing task. There are many possible audiences, such as parents, principal, teacher, site-based council, author, student(s), neighbor(s), board of education, and others

P IS FOR PURPOSE WHY are you writing? You will write for one of three purposes. This is given in the writing task and is set up in the situation: to persuade to inform to narrate an event for a specific purpose

F INDING THE H IDDEN P URPOSE When you are asked to tell a personal story (narrate), it will be for one of two purposes: to inform to persuade You will be able to figure it out by reading both the Situation and the Writing Task

F IND THE P URPOSE Situation: A “Special Memories” booklet is being published at your school to hand out to all students. Think about an interesting event or a special time to include in the booklet. Writing Task: Write an article for the “Special Memories” booklet telling about an interesting event or a special time. Be sure to include details that help readers understand why you chose this time or event. Why are you telling about an interesting event? Are you being asked to persuade or inform?

W HAT ’ S THE PURPOSE ? Situation: All students like recess, but your principal is pushing for less recess and more time in the classroom because he thinks recess is wasted learning time. Think of a time when you learned something at recess time that you wouldn’t have learned in the classroom. Writing Task: Write a letter to your principal convincing him that it’s important to keep recess. Support your opinion by writing about the time when learning did occur at recess. Why are you thinking about a time you learned something? Are you being asked to persuade or inform?

S O …NOW WHAT? You will always be given TWO prompts and be asked to choose ONE to write. It is important to make good choices. Read both prompts carefully. FAP both prompts to identify the FORM, AUDIENCE, and PURPOSE.

L ET ’ S PRACTICE W RITING TO P ERSUADE Read both prompts carefully

P ROMPT #O NE SITUATION: Summer is almost here and kids are going to have more free time to enjoy. Some kids spend most of their free time in front of a video game or the TV. They don’t even like to go outside. WRITING TASK: Write an article for your school paper persuading those students to be more active. Tell them why they need more exercise and fresh air, and suggest an outdoor activity they might enjoy.

P ROMPT #T WO SITUATION: I Love to Read Week is coming soon. Your librarian want you to pick one of your favorite books and write a letter to a friend to convince him or her to read this book. WRITING TASK: Write a letter to a friend persuading him or her to read your favorite book. Be convincing!

S TEP O NE : FAP IT ! SITUATION: Summer is almost here and kids are going to have more free time to enjoy. Some kids spend most of their free time in front of a video game or the TV. They don’t even like to go outside. WRITING TASK: Write an article for your school paper persuading those students to be more active. Tell them why they need more exercise and fresh air, and suggest an outdoor activity they might enjoy. AUDIENCE PURPOSE FORM

FAP IT ! SITUATION: I Love to Read Week is coming soon. Your librarian want you to pick one of your favorite books and write a letter to a friend to convince him or her to read this book. WRITING TASK: Write a letter to a friend persuading him or her to read your favorite book. Be convincing! FORM AUDIENCE PURPOSE

S TEP T WO : L ISTING I DEAS T HE “R ULE OF THREE”

OUTDOOR ACTIVITY : S WIMMING (1) Burns calories (2) Good for heart (3) Makes you strong (1) Good exercise (1) Play games (2) Cool off (3) Many strokes to try (2) Fun (1) No special equipment (2) Friends have pools (3) Low cost at local pools (3) Doesn’t cost much

L ISTING IDEAS THE “R ULE OF THREE” Favorite book: Stone Fox Reasons: (1) Easy to read (2) About a dog and courage (3) Suspenseful and surprise ending (2)

S TEP THREE : T IME TO DECIDE … What topic do you know the most about? or What topic do you know the most about and which one appeals to you the most?

S TEP FOUR : I DENTIFY K EY W ORDS Key words are mostly found in the situation of the writing prompts and sometimes in the writing task. Key words can help you write the introductory paragraph of your letter or article. Key words help your audience focus on the main ideas of your letter or article.

K EY WORDS Summer is almost here and kids are going to have more free time to enjoy. Some kids spend most of their free time in front of a video game or the TV. They don’t even like to go outside. Write an article for your school paper persuading those students to be more active. Tell them why they need more exercise and fresh air, and suggest an outdoor activity they might enjoy.

K EY WORDS ARE “ FREE ” WORDS ! Summertime Fun Summer is almost here and we are going to have more free time to enjoy. Yeah! But should we spend that time in front of a video game or the TV? No! We need to get more exercise and fresh air. But maybe you don’t like to go outside. If that’s the case, here is an activity that you might enjoy.

D EVELOPING YOUR IDEAS : T HE R ULE OF THREE Swimming is Healthy! You should try swimming for three reasons. (1) It is very good for your health, (2) it’s really fun, and something else important is (3) it doesn’t cost much. Swimming is good for your health because (1) the exercise burns calories so you can control your weight. (2) Swimming is good for your heart and helps to prevent heart disease. (3) It also builds muscle which makes you stronger.

T HE “R ULE OF THREE!” Swimming is Fun! It’s fun because (1) you can play water games with your friends like Marco Polo or Underwater Tag. (2) Playing in the water also helps you cool off when the weather is hot. Also there are (3) lots of strokes to try like the butterfly, the crawl, and the backstroke, so you should never get bored.

T HE “R ULE OF THREE!” Swimming is Inexpensive! Swimming doesn’t cost much because (1) you don’t need any special equipment. All you need is a swim suit and a towel. (2) If you are lucky enough to have a friend who has a swimming pool, it doesn’t cost anything. But (3) even if you have to go to a municipal swimming pool, the cost is not very much and the health benefits are worth the money.

C ONCLUSION Don’t spend most of your free time in front of a video game or the TV. Try an outside activity like swimming so you don’t become a couch potato. Everyone loves swimming as soon as they have tried it, so hide your TV remote and take the plunge instead!

I MPORTANT POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND : A RTICLE Focus on an interesting angle of the topic Develop your ideas using the “Rule of Three” three main ideas, each supported by three details or examples Use text features effectively (sections with headings, bulleted lists, etc.)

I MPORTANT POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND : L ETTER Use the correct letter form (business or friendly) Develop your ideas using the “Rule of Three” three main ideas, each supported by three details or examples Anticipate your audience’s questions and make sure you answer them

E DITING Make sure: Your sentences are varied and complete You have used language appropriate for your reader and purpose Your spelling is correct You have used correct punctuation