1. Writing On Demand Preparing for 8th grade assessment

2. Steps to make the right choice and give your best response in the correct mode/form

3. Using your time wisely (60 minutes)
5 mins: Read both prompts carefully and complete short prewriting on both, e.g., identify key words, list ideas
10 mins: Choose prompt for which you have the most ideas and then complete full pre-write

4. 15 mins: Write first draft
15 mins: Revise first draft, making it clear and complete; edit your work to make it correct
15 mins: Write final draft

5. Let’s practice
Writing to Persuade

6. Prompt Number One
SITUATION: Your site-based council is considering whether or not to sell junk food to students as snacks. They like the money it makes for the school, but worry about students’ health.
WRITING TASK: Think about what you’d like to see the school do about snack sales. Write a speech to the site-based council with your suggestions. Convince them to follow your advice.

7. Prompt Number Two
SITUATION: Parents across the country are concerned that their children spend too much time playing video games.
WRITING TASK: Write an editorial for a parenting magazine expressing your opinion about the time spent playing video games and convincing parents to accept your opinion.

8. Cubing the SPAM!

9. Step One: Identify what you are being asked to do
SPAM: Situation, Purpose, Audience, and Mode/Form
Circle Situation
Underline Purpose
Box Audience
Encircle Mode/form with (parenthesis)

10. For example…
situation
SITUATION: Your site-based council is considering whether or not to sell junk food to students as snacks. They like the money this makes for the school, but worry about students’ health.
WRITING TASK: Think about what you’d like to see the school do about snack sales. Write a (speech) to the site-based council with your suggestions. Convince them to follow your advice.
audience
mode/form
purpose

11. SITUATION: Parents across the country are concerned that their children spend too much time playing video games.
TASK: Write (an editorial) for the readers of a parenting magazine expressing your opinion about the time spent playing video games and convincing parents to accept your opinion.

12. Step two: Identifying Key Words
Key words are found in the situation of the writing prompts.
Key words help you write the introductory paragraph of your response.
Key words help your audience focus on the main ideas of your response.

13. Step Two: Identify key words
Your site-based council is considering whether or not to sell junk food to students as snacks. They like the money this makes for the school but worry about students’ health.

14. Identifying key words…
Parents across the country are concerned that their children spend too much time playing video games.

15. Step three: List Ideas Snack Sales -- Junk food
PROs
Money maker for
school
CONs
Two much sugar and fat not good for health
Contributes to obesity
Quick energy fix doesn’t last
Affects paying attention
Tastes good and makes you want more

16. Time spent playing video games
Advantages
Fun way to spend time
Developing game strategies helps ability to think
Disadvantages
Can become obsession
Homework can be neglected
Relationships can suffer

17. Step four: Time 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?

18. Important points to keep in mind
Audience: whom are you trying to convince?
Purpose: what are you trying to persuade your reader(s) to do, think or believe?
Idea Development: use facts and/or opinions to support your ideas
Organization: make sure you stick to the required mode/form (letter, article, editorial, speech) and you guide your reader with transitions from one idea to the next

20. Drafting/Revising Use your prewriting as a guide
Engage your reader with a lead
Make revisions as you write
Anticipate your reader’s questions to guide your writing
Stay focused on your purpose
Make sure you’ve convinced your reader with an effective conclusion

21. Editing 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

22. Persuasive Writing Resources
Persuasive map:
Webquest TV or Not TV That is the Question

23. Adapted from the work of Donna Vincent, Language Arts Consultant, Muhlenberg County Schoolsby
Jennifer Bernhard
Literacy Specialist
Clark County Schools