Open Response Writing Task:
Writing a Paragraph
1. Turn the question into a statement:
Question: Why is it important to learn about other cultures?
becomes
Statement: It is important to learn about other cultures.
This is your TOPIC SENTENCE!
2. Draw a chart just like the one below.
3. List the five senses – one in each row – and jot down what pops into your mind, OR choose
one sense and jot down what you associate with the season and the sense:
Sight
Sound
Smell
Touch
Taste
Diverse people, international dancing, imported items (cars, food,
clothing, etc,)
International music; languages other than English spoken
Ethnic food (pasta, samosa, ginger, pineapple, etc.)
Imported items (cars, food, clothing, etc,)
Ethnic and imported foods
4. Use the information in ONE of the boxes. Include examples.
5. Begin with your topic sentence and write the short paragraph.
Open Response Writing Task:
Writing a Paragraph
1. Question: What is an effective way advertisers persuade teenagers to buy a product?
2. Turn the question in a statement: Advertisers use effective ways to persuade teenagers to
buy a product.
This will become your first sentence, which is your topic sentence.
3. Make this chart in the Rough Notes area:
Introduction (first sentence):
Advertisers use effective methods to persuade teenagers to
buy a product.
How?
How?
4. Fill in your thoughts and answers. Focus on only two ways.
5. Turn each point into a sentence. Your first sentence should be the introductory sentence
(topic sentence).
SAMPLE
What do I know about
advertising?
What are some
effective ads I’ve
seen?
What ways do they
sell: music?
Endorsements?
Because teens
like good music,
celebrities,
humour.
Topic Sentence: (Rephrase the question into a statement):
An effective way advertisers persuade teens to buy a product is through the use of music.
Supporting Sentence: (Explains why music is effective):
Teens love good music, and if advertisers can use a song from a popular musician that will
get more teens to pay attention then that will sell more products. Examples of this
technique can be seen in the IPod commercials that feature current hits.
Concluding Sentence: (Provide a final thought):
A catchy tune will make people remember the ad and they will be more likely to buy the
product.
This writing task is scored for both Topic Development and Use of Conventions
(grammar, punctuation, etc.) using two separate rubrics.
Topic Development Rubric
Writing: Open Response Rubric
Notice the words:

Clear,
o

Means direct,
easily understood
Specific,
o

o
Means detailed
information
Relevant Ideas
o
Means important
information
Means your writing
is legible (easy to
read),
understandable (has
few grammar,
spelling, or usage
errors).