Writing Prompts: Reading Informational Text
Odell Unit: Lay Down All My Joys
Eleventh Grade
Rationale for Informational and Argumentative Prompts: These prompts are connected specifically to
the texts to provide options for culminating writing assignments. The prompts are intended as
resources for teaching full-process writing.
CCSS W 2, RI 2
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: You have just read a number of texts that included different mediums: photos, video(s), and written
texts describing the topic of the impact of war. In an informational/explanatory essay response, explain the loyalty
many soldiers felt to the Revolutionary War as cause to fight/support the Civil War. Make sure you use examples from
at least 2 of the texts, and elaborate on those examples to fully answer the question. In your essay, you will need to:
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Introduce the topic (loyalty to the soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War)
Develop the topic (how this loyalty influenced soldiers)
Use examples from at least 2 of the texts to help develop the topic
Use transitions
Use precise language
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion
CCSS W 2, RI 3
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: You have just read a number of texts that included different mediums: photos, video(s), and written
texts describing the topic of the impact of war. In an informational/explanatory essay response, describe how the
elements of the war environment affected the soldiers both mentally and physically. Make sure you use examples from
at least 2 of the texts, and elaborate on those examples to fully answer the question. In your essay, you will need to:
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Introduce the topic (the environment of the war)
Develop the topic (how this affected the soldiers both mentally and physically)
Use examples from at least 2 of the texts to help develop the topic
Use transitions
Use precise language
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion
CCSS W 2, RI 3
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: You have just read a number of texts that included different mediums: photos, video(s), and written
texts describing the topic of the impact of war. In an informational/explanatory essay response, explain how the
medical care available during the Civil War (both in the hospital and on the battlefield) played a role in the death toll.
Make sure you use examples from at least 2 of the texts, and elaborate on those examples to fully answer the question.
In your essay, you will need to:
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Introduce the topic (medical care available to soldiers)
Develop the topic (how this contributed to the death toll)
Use examples from at least 2 of the texts to help develop the topic
Use transitions
Use precise language
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion
CCSS W 2, RI 4
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: You have just read a number of texts that included different mediums: photos, video(s), and written
texts describing the topic of the impact of war. Authors are very purposeful in the words they choose to use to describe
their thoughts. Select two texts that you found to have powerful language. Select words and/or phrases from both texts
that sets the tone for each. How do the authors’ choices impact their overall purposes in writing their pieces? In your
essay, you will need to:
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Introduce the topic (how word choice impacts tone in both texts)
Develop the topic (how and in what way the specific words and/or phrases effect the tones and purposes of
both texts)
Use examples from both texts to help develop the topic
Use transitions
Use precise language
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion
CCSS W 2, RI 7
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: You have just read a number of texts that included different mediums: photos, video(s), and written
texts describing the topic of the impact of war. In an informational/explanatory essay response, describe the role
slavery played in the fighting and resolution of the Civil War. Make sure you use examples from at least 2 of the texts,
and elaborate on those examples to fully answer the question. In your essay, you will need to:
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Introduce the topic (slavery during the Civil War)
Develop the topic (how it played a role in the fighting and resolution)
Use examples from at least 2 of the texts to help develop the topic
Use transitions
Use precise language
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion
CCSS W 2, RI 8
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: Throughout the Lay Down All My Joys unit you have read 9 texts discussing various aspects of war.
Select two pieces that show different perspectives of similar topics. Explain one author’s point of view and how that
challenges the point of view of the other author.
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Introduce the topic (authors’ points of view on a Civil War related topic)
Develop the topic (how these points of view challenge each other)
Use examples from at least 2 of the texts to help develop the topic
Use transitions
Use precise language
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion
CCSS W 1, RI 3
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: You have just read a number of texts that included different mediums: photos, video(s), and written
texts describing the topic of the impact of war. In an argumentative essay response, explain to what extent you agree or
disagree with the possibility for the North and South to remain divided and still coexist as a country during the 1800s.
Make sure you use examples from at least 2 of the texts, and elaborate on those examples to fully answer the question.
In your essay, you will need to:
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Introduce your claim (the possibility to coexist while divided during that time)
Develop the claim
Develop a counter claim
Use examples from at least 2 of the texts as evidence to support claim and counter claim
Use precise language to show the relationship between claim and evidence as well as counter claim and
evidence
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion
CCSS W 1, RI 3
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: You have just read a number of texts that included different mediums: photos, video(s), and written
texts describing the topic of the impact of war. In an argumentative essay response, assert to what extent the battling
between countrymen impacted the fighting of the Civil War. Make sure you use examples from at least 2 of the texts,
and elaborate on those examples to fully answer the question. In your essay, you will need to:
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Introduce your claim (impact of the fighting between countrymen)
Develop the claim
Develop a counter claim
Use examples from at least 2 of the texts as evidence to support claim and counter claim
Use precise language to show the relationship between claim and evidence as well as counter claim and
evidence
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion
CCSS W 1, RI 5
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: You have just read a number of texts that included different mediums: photos, video(s), and written
texts describing the topic of the impact of war. In an argumentative essay response, assert to what extent slavery was a
primary factor in the conflict and resolution of the Civil War. Make sure you use examples from at least 2 of the texts,
and elaborate on those examples to fully answer the question. In your essay, you will need to:
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Introduce your claim (the extent slavery was a factor in the conflict and resolution of the Civil War)
Develop the claim
Develop a counter claim
Use examples from at least 2 of the texts as evidence to support claim and counter claim
Use precise language to show the relationship between claim and evidence as well as counter claim and
evidence
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion
CCSS W 1, RI 6
Writing Situation: This unit entitled Lay Down All My Joys presents a series of informational texts with a variety of points
of view and accounts discussing the Civil War. Think about what you have learned from the voices of those in battle,
those at home, and those making critical decisions that affected the country. Refer back to your graphic organizers and
annotations to help guide your thinking.
Writing Directions: You have just read a number of texts that included different mediums: photos, video(s), and written
texts describing the topic of war. In an argumentative essay response, assert which author was the most compelling in
persuading your justification for the Civil War. Make sure you use examples from at least 2 of the texts, and elaborate on
those examples to fully answer the question. In your essay, you will need to:
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Introduce your claim (which author was the most compelling)
Develop the claim
Develop a counter claim
Use examples from at least 2 of the texts as evidence to support claim and counter claim
Use precise language to show the relationship between claim and evidence as well as counter claim and
evidence
Maintain a formal style and objective tone
Provide a conclusion