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Prewriting Planning Your Response
Find a Specific Focus 🟪 Even though a prompt may give you a general subject, you have to narrow it down to a specific topic and focus. You can use this formula to find a specific focus:
The topic + a specific focus =
Qualities of great teachers + Connect to students, subjects, and families
a focus statement
Great teachers care about their students, love their subjects, and connect with families.
List Your Details 🟪 Once you have a specific topic and focus, you need to list (very quickly) what you may want to include in your response. This student jotted down three main points, and underneath each, listed examples she could share to prove her point.
1. You can’t teach unless you connect to kids.
—Mrs. Field
2. Teachers should love their subjects so much that they rub off on you.
—Mr. Sohn
3. Teachers also need to connect with families.
The topic + a specific focus =
Qualities of great teachers + Connect to students, subjects, and families
a focus statement
Great teachers care about their students, love their subjects, and connect with families.
1. You can’t teach unless you connect to kids.
—Mrs. Field
2. Teachers should love their subjects so much that they rub off on you.
—Mr. Sohn
3. Teachers also need to connect with families.