Your Prompt Analysis Tool SPAT-ing Your Prompt Analysis Tool

In each prompt- Look for SPAT Situation: Event that causes you the need to write. (on test you pretend) Purpose: The reason you’re writing: to persuade, to narrate an event, to respond to a text/ graphic/ chart. Audience: The person (people) you’re pretending to write to. Task: The type of writing you are to do: letter, feature article, editorial, or speech.

Situation Situation is labeled for you It’s always the first part of the prompt It’s a make believe situation that hasn’t really happened to you It creates a need to write Underline key words in the situation

Purpose Look for one of these in the writing task: Inform on a given topic(organize information by using main ideas and supporting details.) Persuade (Consider the needs/feelings of the audience as you solve problems and/or convince them. Use main ideas and supporting details.) Narrate for a purpose (Narrate to inform or persuade)

Audience Look in the writing task for the audience It might be an individual or a group You write to an audience for reasons stated in the prompt Consider what the audience needs to know, wants to know, and already knows Imagine what questions they will have for you. Answer them in your writing.

Task: The Format Look in the writing task for the mode: letter, feature article, editorial, speech Follow the format Letter has a date/return address, a greeting/salutation, a body, a closing, & a signature Speeches, Editorials, and Articles have: titles, leads, bodies, conclusions

Constraints of On Demand Writing Time (90 minutes *) Feedback (none) No collaboration Minimally authentic No sources outside of your personal knowledge on the topic

The Five-Paragraph Essay

Paragraph 1: Intro Should have an engaging lead: introductory technique Start broad and narrow down topic Should include: Background information Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement Indicates your paper’s topic Identifies your position/stance on the topic-- your opinion in sentence form Provides an overview of the three main supporting points that will unify the essay Usually the last sentence in the intro

Paragraph 2: first Body Paragraph Begins with a transition phrase and topic sentence that identifies the main idea Has at least 3 supporting details Statements/Examples Reasons Evidence All of the sentences are on the same topic Ends with a transition sentence

Transition Sentence Usually found at the end of a body paragraph Makes a clear connection from one paragraph to the other Uses transition words or phrases Is logical Develops coherence in the essay

Common Transition Phrases & Words First First of all Second Secondly Third Next Then Afterwards In the morning In the evening In addition Also More importantly Finally At last Therefore In summary In conclusion

Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph 2 Begins with a transition phrase and a topic sentence that identifies the main idea Has at least 3 supporting details Statements/Examples Reasons Evidence All of the sentences are on the same topic Ends with a transition sentence

Paragraph 4: Body Paragraph 3 Begins with a transition phrase and a topic sentence that identifies the main idea Has at least 3 supporting details Statements/Examples Reasons Evidence All of the sentences are on the same topic

Paragraph 5: The Conclusion Restates the thesis statement in different words (paraphrase) Reiterates the 3 main ideas from the body paragraphs Conclusion technique:Leave the reader with something to think about OR a call to action DO NOT REPEAT THE SAME WORDING USED ELSEWHERE IN THE ESSAY