Bookmark

Sign up or login to use the bookmarking feature.

35 Writing on Demand

Page
479
from
Write for College

Writing on Demand Chapter Opener

Start-Up Activity

Ask students to name things that they can get "on demand" these days. They may suggest some of the following:

  • Movies
  • Music
  • Games
  • Fast food
  • Taxi/Uber rides
  • Snacks/groceries/drinks

The list goes on. For a product or service to truly be "on-demand," it needs to be ready right away. That's what on-demand writing is—writing that is ready right away. The best way to prepare to write on demand is to write regularly, develop fluency (the ability to write rapidly), and learn a variety of strategies and techniques. In short, students who make writing a habit of mind will do well when asked to write "right away."

Think About It

“Quality is not an act; it is a habit.”

—Aristotle

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1.E

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.11-12.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.11-12.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.11-12.3

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.1112.W.2.4

LAFS.1112.W.2.5

LAFS.1112.W.4.10

LAFS.1112.W.1.1

LAFS.1112.L.1.1

LAFS.1112.L.1.2

LAFS.1112.L.2.3

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.38.c.9

110.39.c.9

110.38.c.9.A

110.38.c.9.C

110.38.c.9.D

110.39.c.9.A

110.39.c.9.C

110.39.c.9.D

110.38.c.10

110.39.c.10

110.38.c.10.C

110.39.c.10.C

110.38.c.5.J

110.39.c.5.J

110.38.c.9.B

110.39.c.9.B

110.38.c.1.C

110.39.c.1.C

110.39.c.39.D

110.38.c.1.A

110.39.c.1.A

110.38.c.8.D

110.38.c.8.F

110.39.c.8.D

110.39.c.8.F

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 480 from Write for College

Analyzing a Prompt

On-demand writing begins with a prompt—a set of instructions for writing. If a student's response does not answer the prompt, it will score poorly despite the quality of writing. To create an on-target response, students should start by carefully analyzing the prompt.

Thankfully, they have a very familiar strategy for doing so: the PAST questions. They help students pinpoint each part of the communication situation.

Lead students through the four PAST questions, and then show how to find answers to each question within a prompt. In an on-demand writing situation, students should rapidly jot answers on a piece of scrap paper. These answers will guide them as they form a response and will help them rapidly revise their draft.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.39.c.9
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.2

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
English Language Arts:
WritingPrewriting

Page 481 from Write for College

Understanding the Purpose of a Prompt

Key words in a prompt indicate the purpose of the response—to define, analyze, explain, demonstrate, narrate, and so on. Students must be able to pick out these purpose words and write to achieve that purpose.

Review this page with your class. Then distribute copies of Matching Purpose, which you can use as an activity or quiz. (Download the answer key.)

As an alternative, have students close their books, and then ask them to define one of the purpose words. Compare their suggested definitions with the one provided on the Matching Purpose answer key.

Downloads:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.39.c.9
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.2

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
English Language Arts:
WritingPrewriting

Page 482 from Write for College

Planning a Response

On scrap paper, students should jot a thesis statement. The thesis statement should name the topic indicated in the prompt and provide a particular thought or feeling that addresses the purpose of the prompt.

The student should also quickly list a few supporting points. Each point will become the topic sentence of a middle paragraph.

Students should do all of this—from analyzing the prompt to creating a quick list—in the first five minutes or so of the time allotted to them. They should spend the bulk of their time drafting their responses.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.39.c.9
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.2

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
English Language Arts:
WritingPrewriting

Page 483 from Write for College

Writing a Response

Review with students the tips at the top of the page. They focus on writing a persuasive response—in this case, inviting students to participate in a community activity.

Have students analyze the prompt by answering the PAST questions:

  • Purpose? Invite positive participation
  • Audience? Other students
  • Subject? Community activities
  • Type? Letter to school newspaper

Then ask students to jot down a thesis statement that names the subject and provides a specific thought or feeling that achieves the purpose. Have them quickly list main points to support the thesis.

After students have planned their own responses to this prompt, have them review another's student's response on this page and the next.

Lead a discussion using the side notes. Then widen the discussion, asking how this student's response was similar to and different from the responses your students planned.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.10.C, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.10.C
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1.b, LA 12.2.2, LA 12.2.2.a

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
Form:
Persuasive Letter
English Language Arts:
PrewritingWritingReading

Page 484 from Write for College

Writing a Response (Cont.)

Have students finish reading the model response and discuss it using the side notes.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.10.C, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.10.C
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1.b, LA 12.2.2, LA 12.2.2.a

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
WritingReading

Page 485 from Write for College

Reviewing a Response

After students write their prompt responses, they should quickly revise and edit their work.

Students should review the PAST questions to make sure their responses accurately answer the prompt. Have students question the Purpose, Audience, Subject, and Type as they revise.

Students should also edit their responses for punctuation, capitalization, spelling, usage, and grammar. Provide them the Checklist for Editing On-Demand Writing to guide their work. Of course, they will not have this checklist in a testing situation, but it can show them the kinds of questions to ask as they edit.

Downloads:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.39.c.9
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.2

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
English Language Arts:
RevisingEditing

Page 486 from Write for College

Sample Prompts

Help students practice analyzing prompts and responding to them. Select a prompt from this page and tell students to respond to it within a certain time period (perhaps 45 minutes). Either have students respond as they would on a test, with no support from this chapter, or allow students to flip back to find help as they need it.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.39.c.9
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.2

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
English Language Arts:
Writing