Start-Up Activity

Ask students what planning is needed to be done to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (Possible response: First, you get two slices of bread. Next, you find the peanut butter and jelly jars. Then they get a butter knife, etc.) Point out that planning is needed to be done before they start writing, too.

Then read and discuss the four prewriting tasks listed on this page. Explain that audience is another term for reader. Students must always keep the reader in mind when they plan their writing. For example, students must make sure that their writing answers who? what? when? where? and why? about a topic.

After discussing “Choosing a Topic,” ask for a volunteer to name a topic that he or she would like to write about, possibly from your whole-class notebook.