AIMS REVIEW:
Writing
Dissecting Prompts
& Outlining
Concepts borrowed from Buckle Down
Tip One
Determine SAPF.
What do these letters
represent? Explain what
each word means.
•
•
•
•
S
A
P
F
Answer Question #1
• Subject: What is the
topic of the writing?
• Audience: To whom are
you writing?
• Purpose: What is the
goal or reason for
writing?
• Form: What form should
the writing take?
Correct your answers to
Question #1
Tip One: Practice
Practice finding the SAPF by completing
question #2.
Imagine that the governor of your state will be visiting your school.
You have been selected to deliver a speech to the governor on behalf
of the student body about what teens want most from a high school
education. Your remarks could possibly influence education policy in
your state. Write a speech describing the educational concerns of
people your age.
• Subject: What teens want from a high school
education
• Audience: The governor of Arizona
• Purpose: To explain (and to convince)
• Form: A speech (write as a five-paragraph essay)
Tip Two
Determine what you know and don’t
know about the subject.
• You must use your imagination to come up with
interesting ideas that will engage both you and your
reader in what you write.
• One of the best ways to develop ideas is by
brainstorming.
Tip Two: Practice
Practice brainstorming by completing
question #3.
• Do not judge ideas as good or bad during this
process.
• Do not worry about spelling, grammar, or complete
sentences yet.
• Write down every idea you can think of!
Tip Three
Consider your audience at every stage of
the writing process.
• Knowing your readers will help you decide which
details to present.
• It is important to use the words and sentence
structure that will be most effective for your
audience.
Tip Three: Practice
Practice thinking about audience by
completing questions #4-5.
• If the audience is not given in the prompt, you should
assume your audience will be teachers and
administrators who are grading the AIMS Writing
Test.
Tip Four
Understand the various purposes for
writing.
• First, answer question #6.
• Then, as you view the following slides, summarize
the five purposes of writing in question #7.
Tip Four (notes)
Understand the various purposes for
writing.
• To convince (persuade, influence): The writer wants
to persuade the reader to think, believe, or act in a
certain way. The writer may also encourage the
reader to take a particular action.
• To entertain: The writer wants to make readers
laugh, cry, feel suspense, or otherwise enjoy the
writing. Most fictional writing and personal
narratives are written with this purpose in mind.
Tip Four (notes)
• To describe: The writer gives a detailed description
of a person, place, or object. The writer uses
sensory details, strong word choice, and explains the
personal importance of the person, place, or object.
• To teach, inform, or explain: The writer shares
factual information in a balanced manner without
trying to persuade. If there are two sides to an
issue, the writer lets the readers draw their own
conclusions.
Tip Four (notes)
• To communicate: The writer wants to provide
specific information related to real-world tasks. This
type of writing includes business letters, memos, or
technical manuals.
Tip Five
Understand the characteristics of the
different forms of writing.
• What are some of the writing forms that you may be
asked to use on the AIMS Writing Test? Answer
question #8.
Tip Five (notes)
Writing Form: Purpose and Explanation:
Length:
Narrative essay
To entertain
May be personal (about an event
in your life) or fictional (a madeup story)
Varied – minimum 5
paragraphs
(Must include dialogue &
figurative language)
Persuasive essay
or letter
To convince
Letter: Use business letter format
Five paragraphs
Descriptive essay To describe
Five paragraphs
(Must include figurative
language)
Expository essay
To explain
Five paragraphs
Speech
To convince OR to explain
Write just like an essay
Five paragraphs
Fill in the chart for question #9
Tip Six
Create a detailed outline before you begin
writing.
• Create examples of graphic organizers in your AIMS
Review packet.
• Answer questions #10-13.
More Practice…
The more you practice, the more
prepared you will be.
• Answer questions #14-17.
• Answer questions #18-21.
• Answer questions #22-25.