2.  Misreading or miswriting our destination?  Incorrect destination in mind=hopelessly lost  For example, some towns love trees.  You had better carefully input “Pine Tree Street,” not “Pine Tree Court” or “Pine Tree Lane.”  Otherwise you might be knocking on the wrong door.

3.  Same attention to detail as Google mapping when: › reading a writing prompt › planning your writing destination  Knowing exactly what the writing assignment requires in terms of: › topic › resource text › key writing direction words

4.  Who  What  Do

5.  A prompt may refer to: › the author › a character or characters › you, the writer

6. Take on the role of a town planner in a newspaper editorial to persuade businesses and residents that your town needs such restrictions, referring to the reading resource: Pine Town Business Ordinances. Writing as a: town planner about: my town

7.  Circle any words which identify the:  topic  purpose of the writing task.

8.  search for words or phrases that clearly state the topic of the writing  The topic is the main subject about which you are to write  This is not the detail that explains the subject  Stick to the main ideas, not the details that are parts of the whole or too general.

9. “Many towns have enacted ordinances limiting the number of fast food restaurants” T opic: “laws” and “fast food restaurants” not “towns” or “number.”

10.  purpose of writing task = main focus of your writing task  you are limited to this focus  Keep the focus NARROW and don’t “read into” the purpose of the writing task That is not stated.  In the writing prompt example, the words › “persuade” › “restrictions” should be circled.

11. Take on the role of a town planner in a newspaper editorial to persuade businesses and residents that your town needs such restrictions, referring to the reading resource: Pine Town Business Ordinances. Purpose: to persuade about restrictions

12.  Box any words which identify key writing direction words.  Often there is some overlap here.  In the writing prompt example, “Persuade” should have been circled in the second WHAT step.  box over the circle to emphasize exactly what you are to do

13. Take on the role of a town planner in a newspaper editorial to persuade businesses and residents that your town needs such restrictions, referring to the reading resource: Pine Town Business Ordinances. In this essay: persuade!

14. 1. Describe: show the characteristics of the subject to the reader through visual details 2. Explain: make something clear or easy to understand 3. Discuss: talk about all sides of the subject 4. Compare & Contrast: › Compare: show how things are the same › Contrast: show how things are different If the writing prompt only mentions compare, you must still do both tasks.

15.  What form of writing does the writing prompt require?  What are the purpose(s) of the assignment?  What information do I need to complete the task?  What kind of details or arguments does the writing prompt suggest and would these points make good paragraphs?  Who is the audience for the essay?  How does the audience’s expectations affect my writing style?  Tip : › A good way to begin is to write a one-sentence response to each question.

16. Dissect a Writing Prompt Assignment!