Understanding writing prompts

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MODULE 1: LESSON 1 Understanding Writing Prompts

Transcript of Understanding writing prompts

MODULE 1:LESSON 1

Understanding Writing Prompts

Today’s Writing Strategy

To learn how to identify the mode, the task, and key words within a writing prompt.

To understand how to use this information tounderstand what the writing prompt is asking the writer to do.

What is a writing prompt?Writing prompts are assignments that ask you to write about a particular topic in a particular way.

Writing prompts are based on reading passages.

Write an informational essay explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your

essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and

information found in the article.

Writing is a Two Way Street

WRITER

READER

A writing prompt tells the writer the purpose for writing.

A prompt also tells the writer what the reader needs to needs to know.

Use the CluesThere are important cluesin every reading prompt: the mode, the task, and key words.

Learn to find and understand each of these clues. Then use them to rock your writing!

Write an informational essay explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your

essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and

information found in the article.

Clue #1: The Mode of Writing The mode of writing is the type of writing. Every mode of writing has a special purpose, for example: writing to inform or explainorwriting to share an opinion orwriting to compare

Write an informational essay explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your

essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and

information found in the article.

Clue #1: The Mode of Writing Read this writing prompt carefully. Is it asking the writer towrite to inform?orwrite to share an opinion? orwrite to compare?

Write an informational essay explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your

essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and

information found in the article.

Identify the word in the writing prompt that tells which mode of writing to use.

Clue #1: The Mode of Writing Did you identify the clue?

“Informational” is a key word.This key word lets the writer know that the purpose of their writing response is to inform. The writer knows that they will use facts to educate the reader on a particular topic.

Write an informational essay explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your

essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and

information found in the article.

Clue #2: Identify the TaskEvery writing prompt includes a task.

The task tells exactly what you should write about.

Read the prompt carefully. Identify the part of the prompt that tells you exactly what you should write about.

Write an informational essay explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your

essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and

information found in the article.

Clue #2: Identify the TaskDid you identify Clue #2?

The writer’s task is to explain the relationship between time and clocks.

Write an informational essay explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your

essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and

information found in the article.

Clue #3: Identify Key WordsKey words are important words that give the writer more information about what to write and how to write.

Read the writing prompt one more time. This time, look carefully for key words.

Write an informational essay explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your

essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and

information found in the article.

Clue #3: Key WordsLet’s identify key words.

Explain is a key word. It tells the writer that their task is to make the relationship between time and clocks clear and understandable to the reader.

Relationship is also a key word. The writer’s task is to show how time and clocks are connected.

Write an informational essay explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your

essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and

information found in the article.

Putting It All Together

Write an informational essay

explaining the relationship between time and clocks. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts,

and information found in the article.

Clue #1:Mode/Purpose:

Use facts to inform the reader

Clue #2:Tasks

Explain the relationship between time and clocks to the reader

Clue #3:Key Words

Explain—write in a clear and understandable wayRelationship-show how time and clocks are connected.

Read the writing prompts on the following screens.

Find the clues that tell you what and how to write.

• Identify and circle the mode.• Identify and underline the task.• Identify and box in the key words.

Then put them all together in a statement that tells exactly what the writer should tell the reader.

After reading Cars in the Sky and Real LifeRobots, write an essay telling which invention, flying cars or helper robots, you think would be most useful for families. Provide reasons and use details from both passages to help you explain your opinion.

After reading Cars in the Sky and Real LifeRobots, write an essay telling which invention, flying cars or helper robots, you think would be most useful for families. Provide reasons and use details from both passages to help you explain your opinion.

Putting It All TogetherClue #1:Mode/Purpose:

Use details and facts to support an opinion.

Clue #2:Tasks

Tell whether flying cars or helper robots would be most helpful to families.

Clue #3:Key Words

which—choose between flying cars and helper robotsyou think-state an opinion clearly.both passages-facts and details from two texts

writing a response that uses facts and details from two stories to give my opinion

about whether flying cars or helper robots would be most

useful to families.

I can rock my writing by:

After reading “Drinking Water: Bottled or from the Tap?” and “Art for Ocean Animals,” write an essay in which you compare and contrast the authors’ views on littering and pollution. Include information from both texts to write about the subject knowledgeably. Use details from both passages to help you write your essay.

After reading “Drinking Water: Bottled or from the Tap?” and “Art for Ocean Animals,” write an essay in which you compare and contrast the authors’ views on littering and pollution. Include information from both texts to write about the subject knowledgeably. Use details from both passages to help you write your essay.

Putting It All TogetherClue #1:Mode/Purpose:

Use details and facts to compare and contrast.

Clue #2:Tasks

Tell how authors’ views on littering and pollution are alike and different.

Clue #3:Key Words

information—use factsBoth texts-include facts and details from both.

writing a response that uses facts and details from two

stories to tell how two authors views on littering and

pollution are alike and different.

I can rock my writing by:

After reading the quotation by Theodore Roosevelt and the excerpt from The School Book of Forestry, write an essay to persuade your principal that planting trees is the best project for your school to adopt. Include information from both texts to write about the subject knowledgeably. Be certain to support your point of view with reasons and information from both of the texts provided.

After reading the quotation by Theodore Roosevelt and the excerpt from The School Book of Forestry, write an essay to persuade your principal that planting trees is the best project for your school to adopt. Include information from both texts to write about the subject knowledgeably. Be certain to support your point of view with reasons and information from both of the texts provided.

Putting It All TogetherClue #1:Mode/Purpose:

Use details and facts to persuade the reader (principal.)

Clue #2:Tasks

Tell why planting trees would be the best school project.

Clue #3:Key Words

best—persuasive wordsSupport your point of view-use information from the texts.Both texts-include facts and details from both.

writing a response to persuade the reader

(principal) that planting trees would be the best school

project, and by supporting my persuasive statements with facts and details from

both texts.

I can rock my writing by:

President Theodore Roosevelt believed forests should be saved. Write an explanatory essay that tells how he supported his belief that students should be taught to protect trees and forests. Be certain to show how President Roosevelt used reasons and evidence in his letter to support his point.

President Theodore Roosevelt believed forests should be saved. Write an explanatory essay that tells how he supported his belief that students should be taught to protect trees and forests. Be certain to show how President Roosevelt used reasons and evidence in his letter to support his point.

Putting It All TogetherClue #1:Mode/Purpose:

Use reasons and evidence to explain

Clue #2:Tasks

Tell how President Roosevelt supported his belief that students should be taught to protect trees and forests.

Clue #3:Key Words

tells how—provide examples of the things that President Roosevelt did. Shows how-explain how Roosevelt used reasons.

writing a response that explains the things that

President Roosevelt did and the reasons he used to support his belief that

students should be taught to protect trees and forests.

I can rock my writing by:

The passages you read were about exploring the oceans through technology. Write an informative essay in which you explain how technology has helped explorers overcome challenges related to deep-sea exploration. Use information from the sources in your essay.

The passages you read were about exploring the oceans through technology. Write an informative essay in which you explain how technology has helped explorers overcome challenges related to deep-sea exploration. Use information from the sources in your essay.

Putting It All TogetherClue #1:Mode/Purpose:

To inform the reader.

Clue #2:Tasks

Explain how technology has helped explorers overcome challenges related to deep-sea exploration

Clue #3:Key Words

explain—educate the readerovercome challenges-explain problems and solutions.

writing a response that explains how technology has

helped explorers find solutions to the problems of

deep-sea exploration.

I can rock my writing by: