USING THE R-A-F-T METHOD
TO DECONSTRUCT
A WRITING PROMPT
DECONSTRUCT = TO TAKE APART AND ANALYZE
** HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO WRITE
IF YOU CANNOT BREAK THE PROMPT APART?
WHAT DOES R-A-F-T STAND FOR?
R – Role
T - Task
R T
A F
A – Audience
F – Form & Mode
WHAT DOES R-A-F-T STAND FOR?
R – Role
R – Role
T - Task
R T
A F
A – Audience
F – Form & Mode
What role are you playing?
Are you writing this as a
student, a child, a boss, a
parent, an athlete, a
musician, etc.?
What role are you playing?
WHAT DOES R-A-F-T STAND FOR?
A – Audience
R – Role
T - Task
R T
A F
A – Audience
F – Form & Mode
Who are you writing to?
Are you writing to a friend,
parent, teacher, principal,
celebrity, enemy, etc.?
Who are you writing to?
WHAT DOES R-A-F-T STAND FOR?
F – Form & Mode
R – Role
T - Task
R T
A F
A – Audience
F – Form & Mode
What are you supposed to write
(form)? Is it a letter, a brochure, a
speech, an essay?
What mode is it supposed to be?
Persuasive, Expository,
Descriptive, or Narrative
What form and mode should it be?
WHAT DOES R-A-F-T STAND FOR?
T – Task
R – Role
T - Task
R T
A F
A – Audience
F – Form & Mode
What are the specific things that you
need to do or include in your writing?
How many examples do you
need? How long should it be?
What information HAS to be
included to get full credit?
What is your task?
LET’S LOOK AT SOME
EXAMPLES
PROMPT:AS A TEEN MOTHER WHOSE BABY EXPERIENCED EARLY HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO
YOUR POOR NUTRITION AND SMOKING DURING PREGNANCY, YOU HAVE DECIDED TO TRY TO
HELP OTHER TEEN MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES. WITH THIS END IN MIND, YOU HAVE WRITTEN A
PAMPHLET FOR TEEN MOTHERS THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC.
THE PAMPHLET WILL PRESENT HEALTH AND FITNESS STEPS THAT A TEEN MOTHER NEEDS TO TAKE
IN ORDER TO INSURE A HEALTHY BABY
To the right is how you
complete a R-A-F-T
for the prompt. This
breaks the prompt
down so you can see
exactly what you
should be writing.
give steps to keep baby healthy
Writing as a Teen Parent/Mother
Talk about importance of health and
fitness of mother/parent
RT
AF
Writing to Other Teen Parents/Mothers
Form of a Pamphlet/
Expository Mode
PROMPT: THE ARTS COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO CREATE A PROGRAM TO INSURE THAT
CHILDREN RECEIVE EARLY EXPOSURE TO MUSIC, PAINTINGS, SCULPTURE, AND DANCE.
AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ARTS COUNCIL, WRITE A PROPOSAL TO THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE IN WHICH YOU ARGUE THE NEED FOR THIS PROGRAM AND REQUEST
THEIR MONETARY SUPPORT.
To the right is how you
complete a R-A-F-T
for the prompt. This
breaks the prompt
down so you can see
exactly what you
should be writing.
Writing as the Director of the
Arts Council
RT
Argue FOR he music program
Request money for it
AF
Writing to the Chamber of Commerce
Form of a Proposal or Idea/
Persuasive Mode
PROMPT: IN TODAY’S SOCIETY, SCHOOLS ARE EXPERIENCING INCREASING LEVELS
OF VIOLENCE. STUDENTS ARE OFTEN MUCH MORE PERCEPTIVE THAN ADULTS AS TO
THE CAUSES OF TEEN VIOLENCE. AS THE PRESIDENT OF YOUR SENIOR CLASS, YOU
HAVE BEEN INVITED BY THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT TO DELIVER A SPEECH AT THE
NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. YOU DECIDE TO WRITE A SPEECH ABOUT A TIME
WHEN YOU EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE YOURSELF. YOU TELL THE STORY OF YOUR
EXPERIENCE AND USE ETHOS AND PATHOS TO GET THE AUDIENCES’ ATTENTION.
To the right is how you
complete a R-A-F-T
for the prompt. This
breaks the prompt
down so you can see
exactly what you
should be writing.
Writing as the President of Your
Senior Class
Tell Story Personal Experience with
Violence
RT
Use ethos and pathos
AF
Writing to the School Board
Form of a Speech/
Narrative Mode
PROMPT: YOUR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL HAS ASKED THE STUDENT COUNCIL TO
WRITE A BROCHURE FOR NEW STUDENTS THAT INTRODUCES THEM TO THE SCHOOL. HE
WANTS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE THE BROCHURE AS WELCOMING, INVITING,
AND AS “STUDENT FRIENDLY” AS POSSIBLE. YOU ARE ASSIGNED TO DESCRIBE THE
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT IN GREAT DETAIL, USING ALL FIVE SENSES.
To the right is how you
complete a R-A-F-T
for the prompt. This
breaks the prompt
down so you can see
exactly what you
should be writing.
describe classroom environment
Writing as a school council member
RT
Use all five senses
AF
Writing to New Students
Form of a Brochure/
Descriptive Mode
Now that you have viewed examples of deconstructing
prompts and creating R-A-F-T’s from them, complete the
worksheet that you were given. You may use the
examples from the PowerPoint as a guide until you get
used to doing these.
Do your best!! You have been given specific examples to
help you. Not trying or saying you did not understand will
not work. If you are confused, still give it your best effort.
We will go over this tomorrow after your test on the modes of writing.