Breaking down Prompts with the PAC (Cornell Note instructions included)

Interactive Notebook Set-up Put your spiral notebooks inside your binder with a divider in front of each. Put your loose leaf paper in the binder In your English Interactive Notebook, set aside the first three pages for the Table of Contents, numbered I-VI, front and back Number all remaining pages (even on the left, odd on the right) Set aside the last seven pages for the Glossary, ½ a page for each letter A-Z, front and back.

Prepare your notebook for Cornell notetaking on the INPUT (right) side of your notebook. If students have not yet set up their interactive notebooks (INBs), you may need to take a moment to do this: TOC – first 3 pages, I-VI, front and back, Number all pages (odd on right; even on left) Glossary – last 7 pages, A-Z, ½ page each, front and back

PAC the Prompt: Take Notes EQ: How can “PAC-ing” the prompt improve my writing? Purpose – Why am I writing? To…explain, persuade, inform, compare, etc. Audience – To whom am I writing? (this will influence word choice, sentence structure and content) Context (Occasion or Task) – Where am I? In what social, historical, or cultural situation? In what format should I write (essay, letter, speech, etc.) Allow students to copy the EQ. Purpose: Why am I writing? To… (explain, givInstruct as students take notes (avoid writing anything but main ideas on screen when lecturing): e the reason why, persuade, inform, describe, compare, etc.) Audience: To whom am I writing? (this will influence the word choice, sentence structure, and content) Context (Occasion or Task): Where am I? In what social, historical, or cultural situation? What are the circumstances? In what format should I write (essay, letter, speech, editorial, article, etc.)?

PAC the Prompt Write a letter to a celebrity that explains why you see him or her as a role model. Purpose: To explain why I see _____ as a role model Audience: Chosen celebrity Context: Informal letter format Instruct students to copy the prompt into their Cornell notes and list the purpose, audience, and context underneath. This is still INPUT. Review answers when everyone is ready.

PAC the Prompt Certain TV programs should not be aired on television. Write a letter to a TV producer to explain why you think a certain TV program should be cancelled. Purpose: To persuade cancellation of a television program Audience: Television producer Context: Formal letter Instruct students to copy the prompt into their Cornell notes and list the purpose, audience, and context underneath. This is still INPUT. Review answers when everyone is ready.

PAC the Prompt: Make Notes Review your notes and highlight the main ideas. Confer with a partner to make sure you have the same ideas noted and highlighted: Add information as needed Change information as needed Delete information as needed Write one higher-level question per main idea in the left column of your notes. Focus on open-ended “how” and “why” questions if possible. Instruct students to work alone then with a partner to complete the three tasks (task slides usually have more text on them for clarity of instruction). Circulate and facilitate.

PAC the Prompt: Reflect on Notes Summarize your notes at the bottom of your paper if you have room or on a sticky note if you don’t have room: Topic sentence = answer the EQ Developing sentences = answer HOT?s Closing sentence = wrap up summary with one final statement – can be a concluding idea, an opinion, or a call (yourself) to action Instruct students to work alone to write the summary. Circulate and facilitate.

PAC the Prompt: OUTPUT Practice P1. Write an editorial to your local newspaper to persuade local citizens to become more involved in the Red Cross projects in your town. P2. Everyone has a favorite holiday. Think about the holiday you enjoy more than any other one. Tell what your favorite holiday is and explain why. Instruct students to copy the prompts into their notebooks on the OUTPUT side, then to list the purpose, audience, and context for each. Circulate and facilitate.

PAC the Prompt: Check Your Work P1 Answers: Purpose: To persuade involvement in the Red Cross projects Audience: Local citizens/newspaper readers Context: Editorial format (letter of opinion) P2 Answers: Purpose: To explain why _____ is my favorite holiday Audience: Academic audience Context: Essay format; narrative Review and discuss activity answers.

PAC the Prompt: TOC & Glossary Complete TOC. Add terms to Glossary as needed. Instruct students to add today’s notes to their INB Table of Contents: Date – PAC the Prompt – Page 3. Instruct students to add any unfamiliar or difficult terms to the Glossary in the back of the notebook. On busy days, this may need to be done for homework. It is the students’ responsibility to keep the TOC and Glossary current.