1. A strategy to help us express a depth of understanding as we write
Raft Writing
A strategy to help us express a depth of understanding as we write

2. What is Raft? R - Role of the writer: Who are you?
A - Audience: Who are you writing to?
F - Format: What form will it take?
T - Topic + strong verb: What is the purpose of your assignment?

3. Role of the Writer Newspaper reporter Famous American Lawyer Scientist
Rock Star
Super Hero

4. Audience Congress The President Your teacher A mother Your friend
The newspaper
The School Board

5. Format A letter A speech A memo A journal A recipe Song lyrics
A conversation

6. Topic + strong verb Persuade a soldier to spare your life
Demand equal pay for equal work
Plead to stop smoking
Convince your mother to buy you a new bike
Importance of studying before a test

7. A few samples… R – a water drop A – Parent F – Fairy Tale
T – Explain the travels of a water drop as it goes through the water cycle

8. R- Newspaper Reporter
A – Readers in the early 1900s
F – News Release
T – The effects of the Depression

9. RAFT Example R - Student at Rushe A – President of the United States
F –
T – The pilgrims didn’t have to go to school during Thanksgiving week, so why should we? Persuade the president to cancel school the week of Thanksgiving.

10. November 16, 2010 Dear President Obama, I am writing this on behalf of the students in our nation to plead with you to cancel school during the week of Thanksgiving. Our ancestors, the Pilgrims, did not have to attend school during that week, so why should we? Wouldn’t you enjoy having your own daughters home? Don’t you think kids need to have that special week of thanks to spend time with their parents? I urge you to make Thanksgiving week a mandatory week off for students (and teachers) in the United States. Happy Thanksgiving, Mrs. Gilliland

11. Your turn… Use the chart of RAFT ideas to write to this prompt:
The pilgrims didn’t have to go to school during Thanksgiving week, so why should we? Persuade the audience you chose to cancel school the week of Thanksgiving.