Tackling a Timed Writing
Much of this information comes from the following source:
Gallagher, Kelly. Teaching Adolescent Writers. Portland: Stenhouse, 2006.
On-Demand Writing
 Why
do we care?
 State-mandated
assessments
 SAT
 Advanced
Placement
 Employment
The ABCs (and D) of on-demand writing
A
 Attack the prompt
B
 Brainstorm possible answers
C
 Choose the order of your response
D
 Detect errors before turning the draft in

A = Attack the Prompt
There is
usually
some sort
of intro in
the form of
a quote,
thought, or
story.
READ THIS!
Actual
prompt
doesn’t
come
until
here.
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 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.
HOW to Attack the Prompt
Cross out any unneeded information.
1.
1.
This places your focus on what’s most important.
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.
*** We should cross this out because we
already KNOW we are writing a
composition.
HOW to Attack the Prompt
2. Circle whatever the prompt tells you to DO.
- This ensures that you know exactly what you need to
do to fully answer the prompt.
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.
HOW to Attack the Prompt
3. Draw arrows from the verbs to what you should do WITH
the verbs.
- This draws your focus to EXACTLY what you should
do.
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.
HOW to Attack the Prompt
4.
Write step by step directions of how you should write your
response.
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.
2.
3.
Discuss – a moment in history
Share - its importance
Support – details and examples
When you are done with A, it should
look like this!
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 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.
1.
2.
3.
Discuss – a moment in history
Share – its importance
Support – details/examples
B=Brainstorm Possible Answers
 9/11
 Holocaust
 Declaration
 Iraq War
 WWII
of independence
B=Brainstorm Possible Answers
Security
-airports
-amusement parks
-sporting events
Patriotism
-American flags
-pledge of allegiance
-flags in restaurants
Recognition of dead
Suffering
-widow
-widowers
9/11
War
-Iraq
Lots of
bombing/deaths
-Osama
The moment
-4 planes
-2 NYC
-1 Washington
-1 Pennsylvania
Economy
-airlines
-hotels
Restaurants
-Tourist
attractions
C=Choose the Order of Your
Response
5
Security
-airports
-amusement parks
-sporting events
4
Patriotism
-American flags
-pledge of allegiance
-flags in restaurants
Recognition of dead
Suffering
-widow
-widowers
1
9/11
War
2
-Iraq
Lots of
bombing/deaths
-Osama
The moment
-4 planes
-2 NYC
-1 Washington
-1 Pennsylvania
Economy
3
-airlines
-hotels
Restaurants
-Tourist
attractions
D= Detect Errors Before Turning
in Draft
 Reread
your essay
 Fix 1st draft errors
Time Management and
the Timed Writing
Minute 1 – “A”

Read the prompt and think about your response.

Make sure you understand what is being asked.
Minute 2 – “B”

Brainstorm ideas

Write down words that come to your mind.

Do these words have correlations?
Minute 3 – “B”

Take a position

Write a thesis – what do you think about the prompt?

Make sure the thesis is specific instead of too broad.
Minute 4 “C”

Develop an outline – use the blank space under the
prompt.

Plan on a 4-5 paragraph essay

Introduction – Main Points - Conclusion
Minutes 5 - 17

Using the outline as a guide – begin writing.

Suggested 400 words

Use paragraphs

Make sure your essay makes sense.
Minute 23

Time check

You have about 7 minutes left – make sure you are almost
finished.

If you are almost finished – focus on the conclusion.
Minutes 24-27

Finish

Conclusion
Minute 28

Read your essay

Do you need to add transitions?
Minute 29

Proofread for errors
Minute 30

Reread

Relax