FATP Squared
Or
Analyzing a Writing Prompt
When you are given a writing task,
sometimes it will include a “writing
prompt”. Analyzing the writing prompt
will help you be more successful.
Answer the FAT P2 questions
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F
Format
What type of writing will you be doing?
Chances are the writing will be one of
these:
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F
Format
Expository Essay: Topic Sentence/Body
with details/Closing & Final Thoughts
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F
Format
Letter: Opening/Body with clear
message/Closing
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F
Format
Persuasive Essay: Topic Sentence/Body
with support/Closing & Call to Action
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F
Format Story:
Rising Action/Problem/Solution
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F
Format
Personal Narrative:
Interesting Topic Sentence /Body
with sensory details/Satisfying closing
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F
Format
Knowing what format of writing you are
doing will help you plan your writing.
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A
Audience Who is the audience for the
writing? If it is a letter, you might be
writing to your principal or someone else
you know.
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A
Audience
Knowing who the audience is will help
you plan the type of voice you need for
the writing.
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T
Topic Find the key words in the prompt.
Pick out the words that signal the subject
of the prompt.
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T
Topic
Knowing the topic of the prompt will keep
you on track.
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P
Purpose Reread the prompt until you
understand what the prompt is asking you
to write. It helps to rephrase the prompt
in your own words.
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P
Purpose
Knowing the purpose of the prompt will
help you focus on what you should write.
P
Purpose
Inform
Persuade
Entertain
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P2
Plan Construct a rough and simple plan for
how you will write to the prompt. Decide
which type of graphic organizer to use.
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P2
Plan
Making a plan will help you think about
and organize what you will be writing.
Directions: Analyzing the following writing
prompts. Be sure to write all the steps
that are important to analyzing a writing
prompt. (FATP2)
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1. People run for elected offices, from the
President of the United States to class
officers in a school. You are running for
class president for your grade level. Write
an essay convincing your classmates that
you are the best choice for president.
F-Persuasive Essay: Topic Sentence/Body with
support/Closing & Call to Action
A – Student Body- formal voice
T – (Key words)
Class President
Reasons why I should be chosen as
class president
P – to persuade
P-Table Diagram (See Write Source page 229
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2. Adults have influence on young people’s
lives. Think about the qualities
demonstrated by adults you admire.
Write an essay about the most important
qualities demonstrated by adults you
admire.
F Expository Essay:
Topic Sentence/Body with details/Closing
& Final Thoughts
A- Formal voice
T- Adults I admire
Write about at least 3 things about
adults who I admire
P- To explain
P- Sorting chart (See Write Source page
168)
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3. Think about a time that you were new to
a group. It could have happened at
school or at another place. Tell about
how you learned to fit in.
F- Personal Narrative: Interesting Topic
Sentence /Body with sensory
details/Satisfying closing
A- Informal voice
T- Fitting in
When I was new to a group and I
wanted to fit in
P- – to entertain
P- Web or Clustering
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4. Each of us owns something we treasure.
Your object may not seem special to
anyone else, but it has meaning to you.
Write an essay explaining why this object
is so important in your life.
F- Expository Essay: Topic
Sentence/Body with details/Closing &
Final Thoughts
A- Formal voice
T- Something I treasure
Explain why something I own is
meaningful to me
P- To explain
P-Gathering Chart (See Write Source
page 166)