1. The Process of Writing Whole Pieces on the CATS Test
On-Demand Writing
The Process of Writing Whole Pieces on the CATS Test
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

2. In each prompt, Look for SPAM.
Situation—The event that causes you to need to write. (On the test, you have to pretend.)
Purpose—The reason you’re writing: to persuade, to narrate an event, to respond to a text/graphic/chart
Audience—The person (or people) you’re pretending to write to
Mode—The type of writing you are to do: letter, feature article, editorial, speech
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

3. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools
Situation
The situation is labeled for you.
It’s always the first part of the prompt.
It’s a make-believe situation that hasn’t really happened to you. You have to pretend.
It creates a need to write.
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

4. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools
Purpose
Look for one of these in the writing task:
Respond to a text/graphic/or chart (Organize information by using main ideas and supporting details.)
Persuade (Consider the needs/feelings of the audience as you solve problems and/or convince them. Use main ideas and supporting details.)
Narrate an event (Share what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, touched, said, thought, did… to make a point.)
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

5. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools
Audience
Look in the writing task for the audience.
It might be an individual or a group.
You write to this pretend audience for reasons stated in the prompt.
Consider what they need to know, want to know, already know…
Imagine what questions they would have for you. Answer them.
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

6. Mode: What Kind of Writing You’re to Do
Look in the writing task for the mode: letter, feature article, editorial, speech.
Follow the format.
Letters have the date, a greeting, a body, a closing, a signature.
Feature articles and editorials have titles, headings, columns, leads, closings.
Speeches have titles, leads, bodies, closings.
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

7. On-Demand Writing Gives you Less of the Following:
Time (90 minutes +)
Feedback (none—you’re on your own)
Ownership (two choices)
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

8. Prewrite: Draw and Fill In Your Own Graphic Organizers
Train Cars
Tabletops and Supporting Legs
Picture Frames
Goggle Guy pages
Once you’ve drawn your graphic organizers, fill them in with the supporting details you’ll use in your draft.
Organize them by numbering or lettering each detail.
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

9. Planning your Elaboration
State your main idea(s).
Details for responding and persuading tell why and how, give examples, answer anticipated questions, etc.
Details for narrating an event are sensory (see, hear, smell, taste, touch). They show, not tell about the event by including dialogue, thoughts, and actions.
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

10. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools
Lead
Get the reader’s attention.
Get the reader on the right track by indicating the focus. Put important words from the situation in your lead.
Use a question, quote, comparison, command, list… Use onomatopoeia, dialogue, action…
Write more than one and choose your best.
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

11. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools
Drafting the Body
Follow your prewriting.
Revise as you go.
Revise when you think you’re finished.
For persuading and responding, keep telling why and how. Tell stories. Give examples. Answer questions the audience might have.
For narrative writing, show what happened by sharing sensory details, dialogue, thoughts, and action.
Connect your ideas with transitions.
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

12. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools
Drafting the Closing
Make the piece feel finished.
Give the reader something to think about, laugh at, remember.
You might tie back to something you said in your title or lead.
Be brief. Closings are short.
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

13. Edit for Correctness: Check the following:
Capitalization
Usage (We was)
Punctuation
Spelling
Complete Sentences
Letters or Words Left Out
Repetition
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

14. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools
Final Copy
Use your best handwriting.
Make it LOOK like a letter, a feature article (or an editorial).
Watch your margins and indent for paragraphs.
Revise as you go, when needed.
Be correct and neat. If they can’t read it, they can’t score it.
Don’t give up. Keep working hard. It won’t last forever.
Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools