Writing to Prompts

R – RoleA – Audience F – FormatT – TopicS – Strong Verb

Step 1: Read the prompt twoor three times.

Your teacher is absent, and you must take over for her. Write a story about your day as the teacher.

Step 2: Dissect the prompt!

Sample Prompt:

Your teacher is absent, and you must take over for her. Write a story about your day as the teacher.

Identify the role of the writer.Am I writing as myself? Must I assume a different role?

Role: you

Your teacher is absent, and you must take over for her. Write a story about your day as the teacher.

Identify your audience. Who will be reading your story?

What do you notice about this prompt?

Audience: graders, your parents, teacher

Your teacher is absent, and you must take over for her. Write a story about your day as the teacher.

What format will you use? Format means the type of writing you’ll use. Is it an essay? Is it a poem?

Format: story or narrative

Your teacher is absent, and you must take over for her. Write a story about your day as the teacher.

What is the topic of your story?

Topic: your experienceas a substitute for

your teacher

Your teacher is absent, and you must take over for her. Write a story about your day as the teacher.

What is a strong verb for this prompt? Why are you writing this story? What is your purpose?HINT: There is more than one right answer!

Strong verb(s): tell, detail, describe, relate

Put it all together!• Role – You• Audience – graders, teacher,

parents• Format – story, narrative• Topic – your day as a substitute for

your teacher• Strong verb – tell, detail, describe,

relate

Underline the RAFTS points

Your teacher is absent, and you must take over for her. Write a story about your day as the teacher.

R:A:F:T:S:

Step 3: Combine all the information into paragraph form to clarify the task.

You have been asked to take

over for your teacher for the

day. Write a story that describes

your experience.

Step 4: Go back to the paragraph and

label each component of the

R.A.F.T.S. Make sure you include

components that you had to generate

on your own.

You have been asked to take roleover for your teacher for the day.

Write a story that describes format strong verb

your experience. topic

Audience: graders, principal

You try it!

Prompt:

The cafeteria serves some foods people like and some they don’t like. Think about three different foods that you would like the cafeteria manager to serve that you can’t get now. Write a letter to the cafeteria manager convincing her to serve each of the three new foods you are suggesting.

What will you do first?

Read the prompt more than once.

What will you do next?

Dissect the prompt!

Role: you

The cafeteria serves some foods people like and some they don’t like. Think about three different foods that you would like the cafeteria manager to serve that you can’t get now. Write a letter to the cafeteria manager convincing her to serve each of the three new foods you are suggesting.

Audience: cafeteria manager

The cafeteria serves some foods people like and some they don’t like. Think about three different foods that you would like the cafeteria manager to serve that you can’t get now. Write a letter to the cafeteria manager convincing her to serve each of the three new foods you are suggesting.

Format: letter

The cafeteria serves some foods people like and some they don’t like. Think about three different foods that you would like the cafeteria manager to serve that you can’t get now. Write a letter to the cafeteria manager convincing her to serve each of the three new foods you are suggesting.

Topic: three foods you’d like to see added to the cafeteria menu

The cafeteria serves some foods people like and some they don’t like. Think about three different foods that you would like the cafeteria manager to serve that you can’t get now. Write a letter to the cafeteria manager convincing her to serve each of the three new foods you are suggesting.

Strong verb(s): persuade or convince

The cafeteria serves some foods people like and some they don’t like. Think about three different foods that you would like the cafeteria manager to serve that you can’t get now. Write a letter to the cafeteria manager convincing her to serve each of the three new foods you are suggesting.

Put it all together!

Role: you

Audience: cafeteria manager

Format: letter

Topic: three foods you’d like added to the cafeteria menu

Strong verb: persuade, convince

The cafeteria manager would like input about foods to add to the cafeteria menu; write a persuasive letter to her about your three favorite foods, and explain why she should include them as choices.

The cafeteria manager would like audience

input about foods to add to the

cafeteria menu; write a persuasive format

letter to her about your three

favorite foods, and convince her to topic strong verb

include them. role: you

What do we do now that we are more clear with the task at hand?

Have fun and write!

Be proud of your work!