PowerEd Writing © 2007
Evaluating the Prompt
What to write about…
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PowerEd Writing © 2007
Evaluating the Prompt
Spend 5 minutes on the following steps:• What type of essay are you writing?– Expository? Explain– Persuasive? Convince or persuade
• What exactly are you supposed to write about?• Identify advanced vocabulary– Which words from the prompt should you include in
your essay?
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PowerEd Writing © 2007
Example:
Prompt:All schools have rules that
students must follow.Think about reasons why
schools have rules that students are required to follow while at school.
Now write to explain why it is important to follow rules while in school.
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•What type of essay are you writing?
•Explain = Expository essay
•What exactly are you supposed to write about?
•Rules•Schools•Required
•Explain why it is important to follow rules in school.
•Identify advanced vocabulary:
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Practice:Prompt: Many students and
parents believe that students are given too much homework.
Think about whether or not there should be a limit on homework.
Now write to convince the school board whether or not there should be a limit on homework.
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•What type of essay are you writing?
•Convince= Persuasive essay
•What exactly are you supposed to write about?
•Students•Homework•Limit•School board
•Persuade the school board whether or not there should be a limit on homework.
•Identify advanced vocabulary:
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Using Prior Knowledge & Character Traits
Gather your thoughts…IDEAS
IDEASIDEAS!
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Powerful & Significant
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Activate Prior Knowledge
• After reading the prompt, write down all the thoughts you have about the subject.• Use your own knowledge base to get you
started.
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PowerEd Writing © 2007
Use Character Traits• Using the following character traits (or variations) will help
make your writing powerful and effective.– Responsibility / Responsible– Respect / Respectful– Kindness / Kind– Citizenship / Citizen– Honesty / Honest– Self-Control– Tolerance / Tolerant– Cooperation / Cooperate
• Try to incorporate at least one character trait into each essay you write.
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PowerEd Writing © 2007
List ideas by using Prior Knowledge & Character Traits
Prompt:All schools have rules that
students must follow.Think about reasons why
schools have rules that students are required to follow while at school.
Now write to explain why it is important to follow rules while in school.
Write On!
PowerEd Writing © 2007
List ideas by using Prior Knowledge & Character Traits
Write On!
Prompt:Many students and
parents believe that students are given too much homework.
Think about whether or not there should be a limit on homework.
Now write to convince the school board whether or not there should be a limit on homework.
Limit Homework
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Detail and Thesis Statements
Your road map to a great essay!
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PowerEd Writing © 2007
Detail Statements
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Detail Statements• Evaluate ideas – Choose best 3– Incorporate a character trait
• Analyze word choice– Choose powerful words – Use wording from prompt
• Use time-order transitions to begin each statement– First, – Next,– Last,
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Thesis Statements
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Develop Detail Statements or a Thesis Statement:
Prompt:All schools have rules that students must follow.Think about reasons why schools have rules that
students are required to follow while at school.
Now write to explain why it is important to follow rules while in school.
Choose best ideas:• Safety• Promotes
Learning• Instill Values
Detail Statements:To begin, concern for safety is a reason schools have rules for students to follow. Also, rules promote learning. Additionally, it is important for schools to instill values in their students.Thesis Statement:Schools have rules students must follow because they are concerned with safety, rules promote learning, and schools need to instill values in students.
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Practice:
Prompt: Your class has been studying various ways to
help the environment. Think about why it is important for everyone to
help the environment and ways that this can be accomplished.
Now write to explain different ways that people can help the environment.
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PowerEd Writing © 2007
Evaluate Ideas & Analyze Word Choice for Detail and Thesis Statements
•Choose 3 best ideas•Modify word choice
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Write Detail Statements
To begin, assisting endangered animals is a fantastic way to help the environment. Next, everyone should Go Green whenever they can. Finally, recycling is a proven method to make our world a better place.
PowerEd Writing © 2007
Write Thesis Statement
Without a doubt, everyone should try to help the environment by assisting endangered animals, Going Green, and recycling.
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