On-demand Writing

On-Demand Writing The Process of Writing Whole Pieces on the CATS Test

Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

In each prompt, Look for SPAM. SPAM Situation—The event that causes you to need to write. (On the test, you have to pretend.) Purpose—The reason you’re writing: to persuade, to narrate an event, to respond to a text/graphic/chart Audience—The person (or people) you’re pretending to write to Mode—The type of writing you are to do: letter, feature article, editorial, speech Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Situation • The 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. You have to pretend. • It creates a need to write.

Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Purpose Look for one of these in the writing task: • Respond to a text/graphic/or chart (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 an event (Share what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, touched, said, thought, did… to make a point.)

Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Audience • Look in the writing task for the audience. • It might be an individual or a group. • You write to this pretend audience for reasons stated in the prompt. • Consider what they need to know, want to know, already know… • Imagine what questions they would have for you. Answer them. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Mode: What Kind of Writing You’re to Do • Look in the writing task for the mode: letter, feature article, editorial, speech. • Follow the format. • Letters have the date, a greeting, a body, a closing, a signature. • Feature articles and editorials have titles, headings, columns, leads, closings. • Speeches have titles, leads, bodies, closings. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

On-Demand Writing Gives you Less of the Following: • Time (90 minutes +)

• Feedback (none—you’re on your own)

• Ownership (two choices) Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Prewrite: Draw and Fill In Your Own Graphic Organizers • • • • •

Train Cars Tabletops and Supporting Legs Picture Frames Goggle Guy pages Once you’ve drawn your graphic organizers, fill them in with the supporting details you’ll use in your draft. • Organize them by numbering or lettering each detail.

Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Planning your Elaboration • State your main idea(s). • Details for responding and persuading tell why and how, give examples, answer anticipated questions, etc. • Details for narrating an event are sensory (see, hear, smell, taste, touch). They show, not tell about the event by including dialogue, thoughts, and actions. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Lead • Get the reader’s attention. • Get the reader on the right track by indicating the focus. Put important words from the situation in your lead. • Use a question, quote, comparison, command, list… Use onomatopoeia, dialogue, action… • Write more than one and choose your best. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Drafting the Body • • • •

Follow your prewriting. Revise as you go. Revise when you think you’re finished. For persuading and responding, keep telling why and how. Tell stories. Give examples. Answer questions the audience might have. • For narrative writing, show what happened by sharing sensory details, dialogue, thoughts, and action. • Connect your ideas with transitions. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Drafting the Closing • Make the piece feel finished. • Give the reader something to think about, laugh at, remember. • You might tie back to something you said in your title or lead. • Be brief. Closings are short.

Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Edit for Correctness: Check the following: • • • • • • •

Capitalization Usage (We was) Punctuation Spelling Complete Sentences Letters or Words Left Out Repetition Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools

Final Copy • Use your best handwriting. • Make it LOOK like a letter, a feature article (or an editorial). • Watch your margins and indent for paragraphs. • Revise as you go, when needed. • Be correct and neat. If they can’t read it, they can’t score it. • Don’t give up. Keep working hard. It won’t last forever. Donna Vincent, Muhlenberg County Schools