Attacking the Writing
Prompt
Before writing your essay, read the
prompt several times to make sure you
understand what it is asking you to do.
Created for Writing Institute 2014
By: Ms. Jefferson and Miss Willemin
Different types of Writing

Expository: This type of writing is intended to
explain or describe something
–

Examples include: informational or procedural
texts
Narrative: This type of writing is a spoken or
written account of connected events
–
Example includes: personal narratives
Strategies for
Attacking the Prompt
Circle the words that ask you to do
something.
 Analyze the prompt to identify:

Subject: (What am I writing about?)
Purpose: (Why am I writing the essay?)
Audience: (Who will read my response?)
Format: (What format does the prompt require?)
Formatting Strategies


Expository Writing: Make sure you have a
main idea and three supporting details. (Did
you include your hook and thesis statement
at the beginning?)
Narrative Writing: Make it personal with a
beginning, middle, and end. (Make sure the
reader understands the lesson learned in
your conclusion.)
REMEMBER:
Students are expected to
write 26 lines in response to
the writing prompt.
Remember nothing is graded past the 26th line.
Practice Prompt 1
Circle the words that
ask you to do
something.
Some high schools require drug tests for all
students who want to participate in a school
sport. Before adopting this policy, your
school’s principal has asked for student
opinions. Write a letter to the principal stating
your position. Support that position with
reasons and examples. Persuade the
principal to agree with you.
SPAF for Practice Prompt 1:

Subject: _______________________
(What am I writing about?)

Purpose: _______________________
(Why am I writing the essay?)

Audience: _______________________
(Who will read my response?)

Format:
_______________________
(What format should I use?)
Circle the words
that ask you to do
something.
Practice Prompt 2
Arizona legislators are trying to find ways to
balance the state budget. They announced
that school funding will be severely cut.
Administrators at your school must make the
difficult decision to eliminate one school
program. What program do you think should
be cut at your school? Write an essay
identifying the program you feel should be
eliminated. Support your position with
reasons and examples. Persuade your
school administrators to agree with you.
SPAF for Practice Prompt 2:

Subject: _______________________
(What am I writing about?)

Purpose: _______________________
(Why am I writing the essay?)

Audience: _______________________
(Who will read my response?)

Format:
_______________________
(What format should I use?)
Practice Prompt 3
Circle the words that
ask you to do
something.
Technology is advancing rapidly. Do you agree
or disagree that technology has improved
your life? Write a persuasive essay in which
you convince the reader of your position.
SPAF for Practice Prompt 3:

Subject: _______________________
(What am I writing about?)

Purpose: _______________________
(Why am I writing the essay?)

Audience: _______________________
(Who will read my response?)

Format:
_______________________
(What format should I use?)
Have you attacked your WRITING
PROMPT???