Choose your seat based on the article you would like to read (once a group is full, you’ll have to pick something else…) **DON’T READ YET!!! (Pink) – “The Little House that Could” (Yellow) – “I am Writing Blindly” (Green) – “Death of a Neighbor Leaves Empty Front Porch” (Purple) – “I Learned from My Dad…How to Slug it Out” (Red) – “Keeping a Pinball Wizard’s Dream Alive”

When was the last time you felt compelled to write something When was the last time you felt compelled to write something? (letter, note, story, poem, Facebook update/comment, email, IM, text message…ANYTHING)

The Rule of SO WHAT?! Good writing in every genre answers the question SO WHAT? Good writing has a purpose, a point, and a reason it was written. The good writer looks for and finds the meanings, the significances, the implications in the subject he/she has chosen. Sometimes the SO WHAT? is subtle and implicit. Sometimes it’s explicitly stated. But always a good reader finds something to think about because a good writer found something to think about.

The Rule of SO WHAT?! What does this MEAN? What are some other ways to word this question? ACTIVITY: Read the article. While you are reading, specifically think SO WHAT?? What is the author’s point/purpose? Why does the author think this topic matters? Fill in the one page summary sheet: Sketch a picture the author paints for you Important quote SO WHAT? What is the author’s message, meaning, or point? Why does this topic matter to you/others? What writing ideas does this give you?

Have You Met FAT P? P

Yo, my name is FAT P; I’m in the house today Rocking the mic in the written way. Ya’ll are fly writers, that ain’t no lie, But don’t forget me, Representing How, Who, What And Why. WORD P

Format Audience Topic Purpose What are you being asked to write? Essay, letter, proposal, instructions Audience For whom are you writing? Friend, classmates, teacher, employer Topic What are you writing about? Purpose Why are you writing?

WAIT! The reader should know the writer’s purpose WITHOUT seeing the prompt! How can you be sure this happens?

What is the FATP? Writing Prompt: All people are expected to obey laws at home, school, and in the community. Think of a specific law you are expected to follow. Write a letter to your Congressman/woman explaining how the law affects you and whether you think it is fair or unfair. Use reasons and examples to support your choice. ***What would your THESIS STATEMENT be? ***What details would you use to support it?

NOW What’s the FATP? Writing Prompt: All people are expected to obey laws at home, school, and in the community. Think of a specific law you are expected to follow that you disagree with. Write a letter to your Congressman/woman convincing him/her that the law should be changed. Use reasons and examples to support your choice. ***What would your THESIS STATEMENT be? ***What details would you use to support it?

ACTIVITY – Carousel Brainstorming Each table has a different writing prompt. Read it – determine the FATP – decide what the SO WHAT is - write a thesis statement ROTATE! Read what the previous group wrote – change anything that’s wrong. WRITE A DIFFERENT THESIS STATEMENT. ROTATE! Choose a thesis statement and plan the details that would support/prove it.

HOMEWORK Find an EXPOSITORY or PERSUASIVE article and complete the one page summary handout about it. (**BE SURE TO BRING THE ARTICLE TO CLASS!)