Post on 27-Aug-2018
7/10/09
1
R = Role A = Audience F = Format T= Topic
Format based on work of Doug Buehl cited in Teaching Reading in the Content Areas: If Not Me, Then Who? Billmeyer and Martin, 1998.
RAFT Assignments
Kristina Doubet – JMU – 2007 Doubetkj@jmu.edu
A RAFT… • …isacreative,funstrategythatencourageswritingacrossthecurriculum.• …canbeusedininthefollowingmanners:– AUnit“Hook”– A“Sense-MakingActivity”withinaunit(lesson)– AnAssessmentattheendoftheunit– AJig-saw– ATestReview
• Alloftheabovecanserveasmotivatorsbygivingstudentschoice,appealingtotheirinterestsandlearningprofiles,andadaptingtostudentreadinesslevels.
RAFTs can… • Be differentiated in a variety of
ways: readiness level, reader/nonreader, learning profile, and/or student interest
• Be used as introductory “hooks” into a unit of study
• Be used as summative products • Be used to reinforce specific skills
by keeping one column consistent while varying the other columns in the RAFT grid Be created by the students (or include a blank row for that option)
Possible RAFT Formats
• Advertisement • Advice Column • Application • Cartoon • Commercial • Editorial • Essay • Eulogy
• Interview • Invitation • Memo • Monologue • News Story • Pamphlet • Petition • Resume
• Review • Skit • Slogan • Tape • Telegram • Warning • Will • Debate • Yearbook
French RAFT French RAFT
7/10/09
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French RAFT ROLE AUDIENCE FORMAT TOPIC
Student Self Packing list with Notes
Here’s what I need for my vacation and why I need
it. Native of the
country
A visiting athlete
Map with symbols Here’s what to look for and do on your vacation
here. Tourist Family at home Series of post
cards Please send my….
because….. Native of the
country
Visitors on vacation
List of dos and don’ts
When in Rome….
Hiker or driver Roads Magazine interview
Where are you taking me?
Bureau of Tourism
Potential inhabitants
Travel poster with narration
You’ll enjoy our best features!
Radio announcer
Listener Informational feature
Come share the wonder!
Astronomy RAFT
Fraction Benchmark Strips
ROLE AUDIENCE FORMAT TOPIC Boy of 12 who came from Europe in steerage
Best friend back in Germany
Letter Crossing the ocean on the ship
Ship captain Emigrants waiting to come to America
Booklet How to prepare for your trip
Artist arriving from France
Graphic design firm in NYC
Picture postcard
Wish you were here
Dorothy Hargrove, NYC Sophisticate
Mayor of NYC Editorial We are being overrun with foreigners
Father arriving in first class from Italy
Wife and children in Italy
Letter Don’t worry, it’s easy to immigrate!
Ellis Island RAFT: Upper Elementary Adapted from Ellen Hench 2001
ROLE AUDIENCE FORMAT TOPIC Mother whose 16 year old son does not pass the medical exam and will be deported
Family in Russia Poem Crying my eyes out over here
Young, single woman from Ireland
Her future children Diary Arriving at Ellis Island
Dorothy Hargrove, NYC Sophisticate
Mayor of NYC Editorial We are being overrun with foreigners
Ellis Island Interpreter Immigration Service Employee Newspaper
Cartoon What a lot of gibberish!
Ellis Island RAFT (Continued )
Know • Definitions of: Audience, Tone, Persuasion • The format of an effective piece of persuasive
writing includes: – Introduction: that clearly states the author’s opinion,
mentions reasons why the author holds this opinion, and establishes tone of the piece.
– Support paragraph(s): Includes at least three reasons that prove/support the authors opinion
– Opinions must be supported by examples/evidence
– Conclusion: Summarizes authors opinion and final attempt to convince the audience to agree with the author
Persuasive Writing RAFT Vicki, Loudon County, VA
7/10/09
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Understand • An author’s experiences and personality affect
their writing. This comes through in their style of writing and the tone of their work
• Effective writing keeps the audience that they are writing to in mind
• Opinions of an author must be supported by evidence in order to be persuasive
Be able to… • Write a piece of persuasive writing • Clearly express an opinion • Support this opinion with at least two pieces of
evidence.
Persuasive Writing (cont’d) The students will complete the RAFT activity after studying the use of tone, attention to audience and the key parts of a persuasive piece of writing. The class will have already read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and discussed the characters. The students will be assigned a choice of two roles according to their writing readiness level. This lesson will be introduced as the class putting the A. Wolf on trial. All of the pieces that the students write will be presented to the class. As a class the students will discuss the opinions and evidence presented by the different characters. The class will then step out of their characters and as class vote on whether or not the wolf should be left in jail or set free.
ROLE AUDIENCE FORMAT TOPIC A. Wolf Jury Testimony I am telling the TRUE story of
the three little pigs
Grandma A. Wolf’s Parents Letters Give Al a chance (and some money for a lawyer)
Third Pig Newspaper Readers Letter to the Editor
My brothers were mincemeat – and AL ATE THEM!!
Police Officer Jury Testimony He blew the house and the law down
A. Wolf’s Lawyer
Jury Closing Statement
The wolf isn’t so big and bad. He is telling the TRUE story
Reporter on the Scene
Newspaper Reader Editorial A. Wolf is guilty what is all this huff and puff about?
Example: Immigration RAFT
Dobbertin/Doubet -- 2005
ROLE AUDIENCE FORMAT TOPIC
1 Member of the
Founding Fathers’ “inner circle”
Cousin at home in England
Letter of Explanation
These guys’ ideas aren’t so different
from yours!
2 Journalist Colonists Feature story with
timeline and illustrations
The conflict thus far: Here’s what
we know!
3 Loyalist OR Patriot Members of opposing party
Propaganda Campaign
Come on over to the right side!
4 Representative of the disgruntled colonists
Meeting of the First
Continental Congress
Rap, Song, or Speech
“Give us Liberty, Yo!”
5 Fly on the wall at the
meeting of the 2nd Continental Congress
Other Fly Friends
Dialogue and Sketch
Here’s what I saw and heard!
American Revolution (Test Review)
Boone/Doubet -- 2006
Taming of the Shrew ROLE AUDIENCE FORMAT TOPIC
Kate The public A “retraction” in a local newspaper
Here’s what I really meant to say…
Lucentio Tranio Letter written five years after the play
Can we trade places again?
Bianca Other “ladies” of Padua “How-to” Booklet Here’s how to get your man – and keep the
upper hand
Petruchio Men in arranged marriages to
“difficult” women
Self-Help column or booklet
The art of seduction
Baptista Readers of “Taming of the Shrew”
Letter of defense Why I did what I did/How I really feel
about my daughters
You may suggest your own RAFT assignment. Write it up and clear it with Miss Doubet.
Doubet – 2005
7/10/09
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Tom Sawyer’s RAFT ROLE AUDIENCE FORMAT TOPIC
Sid Aunt Polly Affidavit Why Tom should get a lickin’
Huck Self Poem or Song Who am I without my friend, Tom?
Aunt Polly Widow Douglas Dialogue Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen (because of Tom)!
Becky Tom Letter How I really feel about you…
Injun Joe Self Drawing of Dream
Why I’m going to get even with Tom Sawyer… and HOW I’ll do it!
Muff Potter Townspeople Speech Why I thank goodness for Tom Sawyer….
• This Raft is also differentiated according to readiness; top 3 formats are more difficult.
• Post RAFT Assignment – • Meet in “Mixed Character” Groups and share RAFT responses (see next slide) • Compose an essay on the following topic: “Taking multiple perspectives into account, is Tom a hero? Why or why not?
Doubet/Capper – 2003
Tom Sawyer Jigsaw Graphic Organizer
Directions: As your classmates present their RAFTS, take notes on what you learn about lab safety from their projects.
Character Discussed
Classmate Presenting Notes
Doubet/Doubet – 2003
Role Audience Format Topic Points of Discussion Teen Magazine’s Fashion Editor
Middle School Students
Double-page Magazine Spread
“Here’s what’s ‘IN’ in Technology- Education
Fashion” Eye wear; ear-wear; long hair; baggy clothes; jewelry; long
sleeves Referee Middle School
“Tech-thletes” Instruction Playbook
“Instant Replay Out-takes: Fouls in the Technology Lab”
Running; horseplay; injuries; anchor activities
The Technology Lab
The Public Wanted Posters
“Wanted: Students Caught in the Act of Breaking
Clean-up Laws” Your three primary “clean-up”
responsibilities; your work area
Newspaper Writer
Fauquier Times Democrat Readers
Expose` Cover Story
“Undercover in the TMS Tech Lab: What Materials
Talk about at Night” Proper handling of hand tools,
heavy items, materials; Cabinets
Scroll Saw and Drill Press
Each Other Comic Strip “What we wish middle school students knew about
how to handle us…” Drill Press: speed; chuck key; Scroll Saw: hold-down; upper-
guide adjustment Both: brush; positioning work
A Computer who “works” in the Tech Lab
A “New” Computer at his first day at work
Power Point Presentation
“These are Your Rights!” All items on “Technology Computer Rules” handout
Technology Safety R.A.F.T. Directions: • Select one of the following prompts. The “Role” is the character you will become, and from whose perspective that you will write. The “Audience” is to whom that character will be writing. The “Format” is the form in which the opinion will be expressed. The “Topic” is just that – your topic! The “Points of Discussion” are those things that you should be sure to include in your project. • All products must… 1) Include all necessary “Points of Discussion,” 2) Use a combination of words and pictures, • 3) Communicate the topic clearly and forcefully, and 4) Be of professional quality – fit for publication for next year’s class. • Circle the ROLE that you plan to pursue. Decide what materials you’ll need (digital camera, computer, poster paper, etc.) Plan your presentation, and clear it with your teacher before you begin working. You may use your notes to help you.
Doubet/Doubet – 2003
Technology RAFT Jigsaw Graphic Organizer
Directions: As your classmates present their RAFTS, take notes on what you learn about lab safety from their projects.
Subject Discussed
Classmate Presenting Notes
Doubet/Doubet – 2003
Create your own RAFT ROLE AUDIENCE FORMAT TOPIC