ATTACK THE PROMPT
It’s as easy as ABCD!
• A = Attack the Prompt
• B = Brainstorm possible
answers
• C = Choose the order of your
response
• D = Detect errors before turning
in the draft.
Attack the Prompt
• The prompt comes
in 2 parts. The first
part is the Writing
Situation, and the
REAL directions
(Writing Directions)
come in the second
half. You have to
program your brain
to only pay attention
to the directions!
Get rid of what you do not need!
• Cross out the words “Write a report to be read in
class” in the prompt. We already know that our
purpose is to write. Your prompt may use these
terms that will mean the same thing: essay,
paper, composition, report, letter, speech, etc.
• The only word to make note of is “LETTER”
because this tells you that your writing should
include a salutation and you need to write to a
specific person
Many people like to have a place where they can
go to relax or unwind. It could be indoors or
outdoors. Some people prefer quiet
surroundings while others like a busier
atmosphere or place. Think about a place you
like to go to relax or unwind.
Write a report to be read in class that describes
a place that you like to go to relax or unwind. Be
sure to include specific examples and details
that explain why the place is relaxing and
support your statements.
Many people like to have a place where they
can go to relax or unwind. It could be indoors or
outdoors. Some people prefer quiet
surroundings while others like a busier
atmosphere or place. Think about a place you
like to go to relax or unwind.
Write a report to be read in class that describes
a place that you like to go to relax or unwind. Be
sure to include specific examples and details
that explain why the place is relaxing and
support your statements.
Next, circle any word that asks you
to do something.
.
Many people like to have a place where they can
go to relax or unwind. It could be indoors or
outdoors. Some people prefer quiet surroundings
while others like a busier atmosphere or place.
Think about a place you like to go to relax or
unwind.
Write a report to be read in class that describes a
place that you like to go to relax or unwind. Be
sure to include specific examples and details that
explain why the place is relaxing and support your
statements.
Draw an arrow from each circled word
to what it specifically tells you to do.
Write a report to be read in class that
describes a place that you like to go to
relax or unwind. Be sure to include
specific examples and details that explain why
the place is relaxing and support your
statements.
Summarize what you know about
the prompt:
Under the prompt,
rewrite and number the
circled words. Next to
each word, rewrite what
the word asks you to
do. This now gives you
just the critical
information you need to
know to write for the
prompt and reduces
your chance of getting
distracted and/or going
off topic.
What our prompt looks like now:
1. DESCRIBE: a place where I like to go
to relax
2. INCLUDE: specific details and
examples
3. EXPLAIN: why this place is my spot
for relaxing
Practice on your own:
By the time students enter high school, they
have learned about many moments in history
that have influenced our world today. Think
about a moment in history you have studied and
consider its importance.
Write a composition in which you discuss a
moment in history. Share its importance in
today’s world. Be sure to support the moment
with details and examples.
Here’s what it looks like after our
attack:
By the time students enter high school, they have
learned about many moments in history that have
influenced our world today. Think about a moment in
history you have studied and consider its importance.
(This is the first half or the “warm up” that
introduces us to the topic – it does not tell us what
to do in our writing. Read it – but do not let it
confuse you about your purpose when you begin
writing!)
Write a composition in which you discuss a moment in
history. Share its importance in today’s world. Be sure
to support the moment with details and examples.
So what am I writing?
1. DISCUSS: a moment in history
2. SHARE: the importance of that
moment to our world today
3. SUPPORT: answer with specific
details and examples
B = Brainstorm Possible Answers
What are some
moments in history that
I know about? About
which one do I think I
could write the
most/best?
Why is that event
important?
What details and
examples should I
include?
C = Choose the order of my
response
Is this a persuasive
essay or an
expository essay?
Which parts of my
brainstorming list
make sense for the
type of essay that I
have to write?
D = Detect Errors
It makes no sense to
spend an hour writing
something and turn it in
with errors that will keep
your reader from
completely understanding
you! Do not skip the
revision step! Give
yourself plenty of time to
take a look at your writing
and make sure that it’s
the best example of
what you can do.
Here is our topic:
Write a composition in
which you discuss a
moment in history. Share
its importance in today’s
world. Be sure to support
the moment with details
and examples.
1. DISCUSS: a moment
in history
2. SHARE: the
importance of that
moment to our world
today
3. SUPPORT: answer
with specific details and
examples
Brainstorm on your own paper:
What are some moments in history that
I know about? About which one do I
think I could write the most/best?
Why is that event important?
What details and examples should I
include?
Be Choosey!
Is this a persuasive essay or an
expository essay?
Which parts of my brainstorming list
make sense for the type of essay that I
have to write?
Remember Strategies!!!
• Persuasive Essay:
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Shake
Show
Tell
Round 1
Round 2
POW!
Knock Back
Do this, Please!
Shake
• Expository Essay:
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–
–
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Lead
Show
Meet
Highlight 1
Highlight 2
Highlight 3 (if you have
one)
– HOW!
– Conclusion (thoughts
and/or feelings about the
subject)
This essay is expository
• Expository Essay:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Lead
Show
Meet
Highlight 1
Highlight 2
Highlight 3 (if you have
one)
– HOW!
– Conclusion (thoughts
and/or feelings about the
subject)
Look back at your
brainstorm list about the
important events in
history that you know
about. Do you have a
great HOW! highlight?
Do you have at least 2-3
good other highlights to
use as well? Can you
give specific
examples/details to
support your highlights?
Remember Organization for the
Expository Essay:
• In order to organize
your thoughts and
make the highlights
effective, you can:
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Compare/Contrast
Show Cause/Effect
Problem/Solution
Analyze/Classify
START YOUR ENGINE AND
WRITE!
Take a deep breath,
look at what you need
to do, decide what
information you will
use, organize your
thoughts, and start
writing! When you
finish, take another
deep breath, and take a
new look at your paper.
When you revise, ask yourself:
•
Is your IDEA clearly stated?
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Did you include an effective introduction
and conclusion?
Do you have a logical sequence of ideas?
Did you use effective transitions and did
you use a good variety of transitional
words/phrases?
Does your STYLE show in your writing?
–
Did you stay focused on your topic and
purpose?
Do you have supporting
details/examples/ideas that are logical and
make sense?
Did you use the write
strategies/organization for the type of
essay you wrote?
Have you ORGANIZED your paper in a
logical way?
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Have you chosen engaging and precise
words?
Do you have a good variety of sentences?
Have you helped your reader create the
“movie” in his/her head so that you can
keep his/her attention?
Will the CONVENTIONS that you have
used help your reader to fully understand
your writing?
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Are your sentences formed correctly?
Do subjects and verbs agree?
Do all pronouns agree with their
antecedents?
Is the majority of your spelling,
capitalization, and punctuation correct?
Have prepositional phrases been used
correctly?
What have you learned?
Attack the following prompt:
All of us have heard about
certain individuals who have
become heroes when they
were least expecting to. This
may account for the fact that
heroes are not born but rather
made by circumstances.
What is your definition of a
hero? Describe the
characteristics of a hero. Cite
a specific incident or
circumstance where you
believe someone acted
heroically.
• A = Attack the prompt
• B = Brainstorm possible
answers
• C = Choose the order of your
response
• D = Detect errors before
turning the draft in
What have you learned?
Another high school has just
been built two miles from
yours. A younger friend has
the choice of attending your
school or the new one next
year. He has asked you to
help him make the decision.
Help your friend. Write a
letter to him/her describing
some of the advantages
and/or disadvantages of
choosing your high school.
Be convincing.
• A = Attack the prompt
• B = Brainstorm possible
answers
• C = Choose the order of your
response
• D = Detect errors before
turning the draft in