1. How to Analyze a Writing Prompt
Ready
AVID

2. In your AVID composition book…
WRITE
Brainstorm a list of timed writing situations you have encountered already and will encounter in your lifetime.
Next, create a Venn diagram in your comp book. Label one circle “Timed Writing” and the other “Process Writing.” Brainstorm how the two situations are different and similar.
DISCUSS
How can you transfer what you know about how to write a process essay to a timed writing situation? How do your skills as a writer help you regardless of the writing situation?

3. Breaking down a writing prompt…
Many students struggle with writing situations because they misunderstand or misread the writing prompts. Take a look at the following prompt from the 2001 California High School Exit Exam test-preparation materials:
Everyone performs tasks every day whether they are as simple as making breakfast or as difficult as repairing a bicycle. To complete these tasks, there is a process that must be done to do it successfully. Think of a task you do well. Write an essay in which you explain the process it takes to complete the task successfully. Imagine that the reader of your essay has never done this task before and needs to know each step of the process.
Write down the key words/phrases in this prompt.

4. Breaking down the prompt…
WRITE
Using the key words/phrases you wrote down, rewrite the exit exam prompt in your own words. Make a concentrated effort to phrase the prompt in the form of a question.
DISCUSS
Share and compare your work in small groups or with a partner. What did you come up with?

5. Breaking down the prompt…
ORGANIZE
On your own paper now, draw or create a visual representation showing how the key words/ideas are related to one another and then share your work with a partner or in small groups.
RECAP
1.Underline/circle/write the key words/phrases in the prompt.
2.Rewrite the prompt in own words, stated as a question if possible.
3.Draw an organizer or create a visual representation showing how the key words/phrases are related to one another.

6. Part Two: Planning the Essay
Ready
AVID

7. Time Devotion
DISCUSS
How much time do you think you should spend on the prompt dissection, topic selection, and planning (in other words, the PREWRITING stage)?
Are you nervous about devoting 1/6th of your time to this?
WRITE
In small groups or with a partner, practice dissecting one of the additional prompts.

8. Prompts
Identify and describe the steps associated with meiosis and mitosis. How are these processes similar and different?
Explain how to solve a particular type of math problem to a student who will be in the same math class (that you are currently taking) next year.
Choose a character from a story with which you are very familiar. Analyze this character’s development and discuss how he/she changes over the course of the story. Be sure to give specific examples and support.

9. Individual Practice WRITE Choose one of the previous prompts.
Next, plan your essay by creating a cluster, writing an outline, or jotting down notes detailing information that will be included in the essay.
At this point, you are NOT writing the essay for the prompt but just practicing all the prewriting stages.
FUTURE PLANNING (WRITE THIS DOWN)
1/6 of the allotted time for prewriting tasks
4/6 of the allotted time for writing the essay
1/6 of the allotted time for reviewing, editing, and revising the essay
What would this look like if you had 60 minutes to complete an essay? 25 minutes?