1. Writing On Demand Preparing for assessment
Making the right choice and giving your best response

2. Using your time wisely (60 minutes)
5 mins: Read both prompts carefully and complete short prewriting on both, e.g., identify key words, list ideas
10 mins: Choose prompt for which you have the most ideas and then complete full pre-write

3. 15 mins: Write first draft
14 mins: Revise first draft, making it clear and complete; edit your work to make it correct
15 mins: Write final draft

4. Let’s practice
Writing to Persuade

5. Prompt Number One
SITUATION: Your site-based council is considering whether or not to sell junk food to students as snacks. On the one hand, this is a money maker for the school. On the other hand, there is a concern about junk food affecting students’ health.
TASK: Think about what you’d like to see the school do about snack sales. Write a letter to the site-based council with your suggestions. Convince them to follow your advice.

6. Prompt Number Two
SITUATION: Parents in your community are concerned that their children spend too much time playing video games.
TASK: Write an article for your school’s newspaper expressing your opinion about the time spent playing video games and convincing parents to accept your opinion.

7. Step One: Identify what you are being asked to do?
Situation, Purpose, Audience, and Form.
Circle the purpose.
Underline the audience.
Draw a box around the situation.
Place parentheses around the form (letter).

8. For example…
situation
SITUATION: Your site-based council is considering whether or not to sell junk food to students as snacks. On the one hand, this is a money maker for the school. On the other hand, there is a concern about junk food affecting students’ health.
TASK: Think about what you’d like to say to the school council about snack sales. Write a (letter) to the site-based council with your suggestions. Convince them to follow your advice.
form
audience
purpose

9. SITUATION: Parents in your community are concerned that their children spend too much time playing video games.
TASK: Write (an article) for the readers of a parenting magazine expressing your opinion about the time spent playing video games and convincing parents to accept your opinion.

10. Step Two: Highlight key words
SITUATION:
Your site-based council is considering whether or not to sell junk food to students as snacks.
On the one hand, this is a money maker for the school.
On the other hand, there is a concern about junk food affecting students’ health.

11. Highlight key words… SITUATION:
Parents in your community are concerned that their children spend too much time playing video games.

12. List Ideas Snack Sales -- Junk food
PROs
Money maker for
school
CONs
Two much sugar and fat not good for health
Contributes to obesity
Quick energy fix doesn’t last
Affects paying attention
Tastes good and makes you want more

13. Time spent playing video games
Advantages
Fun way to spend time
Developing game strategies helps ability to think
Disadvantages
Can become obsession
Homework can be neglected
Relationships can suffer

14. Time to decide… What topic do you know the most about? or
What topic do you know the most about and which one appeals to you the most?

15. Important points to keep in mind
Audience: whom are you trying to convince?
Purpose: what are you trying to persuade your reader(s) to do, think or believe?
Idea Development: use facts and/or opinions to support your ideas
Organization: make sure you stick to the required form and you guide your reader with transitions from one idea to the next

17. Drafting/Revising Use your prewriting as a guide
Engage your reader with a lead
Make revisions as you write
Anticipate your reader’s questions to guide your writing
Stay focused on your purpose
Make sure you’ve convinced your reader with an effective conclusion

18. Editing Make sure: Your sentences are varied and complete
You have used language appropriate for your reader and purpose
Your spelling is correct
You have used correct punctuation

19. Resources: Persuasive Writing
Persuasive map:
Webquest TV or Not TV That is the Question