Professional Development ~ Writing
Unit Title: Professional Development ~ Writing
Session Title: On Demand Writing (This should occur in a computer lab with Internet
access.)
Essential Questions: (Slide 2)
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Why should I incorporate On Demand Writing in my classroom instruction?
Know: (Slide 3)
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What On Demand Writing is
The steps involved in On Demand Writing
How the writing process fits with On Demand Writing
How to address On Demand Writing through writing instruction
Do: (Slide 4)
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Write from a prompt
Share On Demand Writing ideas from their classroom
Identify SPAM in a writing prompt
Complete a VVWA
Sponge Activity: (15 minutes) (Slides 5 & 6)
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Make sure that all participants are at a computer with Internet access. If there
are not enough computers, have participants pair up with someone who is going
to write online. One person can write with pen and paper but is still being timed.
Participants will view the prompt and go to the website to complete their timed
writing online
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/GRAMMAR/composition/freewriting5.htm.
Prior to the session you may want to bookmark this site so that participants can
quickly access it.
Participants will type their paragraph in the box provided as the timer counts
down.
Have a couple of volunteers share their paragraphs.
Discuss the possibilities for using this site (see slide notes). It has been included
on the Resource List.
Vocabulary Development: (10 minutes) (Slide 7-8)
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What is On Demand Writing? Have participants complete the Visual Verbal
Word Association on their own. Ask volunteers to share their thoughts and
examples. What kind of On Demand Writing do they do in their classrooms?
Have participants share their answers. You may want to have teachers post their
VVWAs around the room so others can view them.
Show the slide of On Demand Writing and explain the 3 things that make On
Demand Writing different from other types of writing students are asked to do.
Activating Prior Knowledge: (5-10 minutes) (Slide 9)
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Show the SPAM slide and remind the participants of the Sponge Activity and
their definition for SPAM.
Talk about how there are several definitions for SPAM (noun -lunch meat in a
can, noun - junk email, verb – to send unsolicited email)
Skill Lesson through Direct Instruction and modeling: (60 minutes) (Slides 10 – 19)
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Show the slide containing the acronym for SPAM (situation, purpose, audience
and mode). Talk about each of the letters and what students should look for
when determining the parts of a prompt and preparing to write.
Use the slide from the Sponge writing prompt and have partners identify the
SPAM in the prompt. Then show the slide that highlights each section.
Go through the next few slides that further explain each of the items in SPAM.
Give participants the Writing Guide for ACT and SAT that was created by Terry
Reale and tell them that even though it was written for those college entrance
exams, the ideas and suggestions apply to any type of On Demand Writing.
Go over the steps to follow when writing on demand.
Active Literacy: (60 minutes) (Slide 20-22)
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Hand out the sheet of On Demand Writing Resources and have teachers explore
to find three prompts that they could use in their classrooms. They will record
this information on the Prompt Collection Sheet. After they have found three
prompts they will identify the SPAM in each.
Participants will try their hand at writing a prompt that addresses their content
area and incorporates real world situations. They will identify the SPAM in their
prompt. Call on volunteers to share their prompt.
Post Literacy: (15 minutes)(Slide 22)
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Conduct a Pair-Square to share the prompts that were written by participants.
Partners will share their prompt with one person identifying the SPAM in their
partner’s prompt. The partners will pair with another set and repeat the process.
Reflection: (10 minutes)(Slide 23)
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3-2-1 Exit Slip – Three things I learned, Two things that were confirmed, One
thing I Have a Question about
Have them share the Questions they need to have answered, then take up the
Exit Slip before they leave.
Materials:
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VVWA Sheet
Writing Guide for ACT and SAT
Resource list for On Demand Writing
Prompt Collection Sheet