How to make the writing process work

How to make the writing process work. Use a writer’s notebook DAILY but don’t grade or read them.

Remember, this is the first stage of writing that is too often neglected—this is the brainstorming stage.

Model by sitting in a student desk and writing with students. Always know what your end goal is. What type of writing do you

want them to give you? So often we want students to write literary analysis but we never share examples of literary analysis (perhaps because there are very few real world examples?) Share real world examples (student samples where possible) and mentor texts.

Some students will resist these prompts and say they can’t do it, don’t know what to write, etc. Keep going. Don’t give them too much help. They will get it.

Build in 1-2 minutes of sharing time every day. If they don’t have time to share with a partner, ask for a volunteer or two.

Set a timer so you stay on task. Each day, push them to write more in the same time frame than they did the day before. Make it a game, a contest.

Many of the prompts in this edition include historical images or docs. You do not have to explain them. Let them guess or imagine through their writing first, then you can share the details—or not.

Notes for the Teacher

Using this Powerpoint. These materials are aligned with Common Core writing standards. If you have used these prompts before, please note that the alignment

simply means we have organized these materials differently, and included some more historical documents and images. Your process for using them remains the same.

Every teacher has a unique aspect to their teaching and we truly value that. This collection is intended to be used as a model to help you get started. Our hope is that you see how fluidly these integrate with YOUR content and you will begin to create prompts based specifically on your students’ needs. This is why we have provided this in both a show and an editable version. Remember—what follows is JUST a model. Make it work for you.

On some of the slides we have shared some additional information in the NOTES section at the bottom of each slide. These include links to sites with samples, connections to the prompts, and more.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are having trouble with implementing writing in your class. We are dedicated to helping you implement and succeed. Email us.


mailto:[email protected]?subject=Writing%20Prompts

EVERY DAY: 5 minutes of writing / 3-5 minutes of sharing

Monday- Thursday: Write for 5-10 minutes as much as you can in that time.

Remind students what your END GOAL is—will this be a personal essay, persuasive? Etc.

Share with a partner or as a class for 3-5 minutes.

Do not collect. Do not grade. Participation grade only. (I give 100 points on the first day, then students can simply keep those points by

participating. If they become a distraction, they start losing those points.)


ONCE OR TWICE DURING THE WEEK: Mentor Text

Choose reading activities that mirror the writing students are working with. If you want them to write literary analysis, then share with them some examples of literary analysis.

Try to provide at least two examples with at least one written by students if possible.

These should be real world examples and the reason WHY students would write in this mode.

See the list with links to sample papers and publications.


ON FRIDAY Write a complete draft

After the 5 minute writing prompt….look back through the notebook and select one entry, or bits and pieces, or start fresh, and write a complete piece.

Revisit the student examples as models to aim for.

How much time you use for this on Friday depends on your class. At first they will likely need all period. After, they can (and will) do it for HW.

Turn in completed piece (The Draft) on Monday.


On MONDAY Polished Papers (the draft)

Collect the complete paper on Monday. (The Draft) Give yourself a week to read and make notes of common errors/issues to

address. DO NOT WRITE ON THEIR PAPERS. Type up examples.

THE FOLLOWING MONDAY -- Pass back papers. Go over 1-2 issues per week using their examples. Students write those two issues on top of the page. Ex. Skill for the week: fragments, details.

Students must find the issue in their own writing and turn back in (or put in folder for later)

Grade based on their ability to find the errors or on side activity related.

If you always collect a paper on the same day you pass back one you have already looked at, you can make better use of your time. They can find the “issues of the week” on BOTH papers this way and be more productive.


Three Times a Semester:Writing WorkshopEvery 4-6 weeks students take their polished pieces (drafts) and

select one they want to revise and submit for workshop.

Must be typed and name must be on the back of the paper.

Teacher makes copies of some of the pieces(approximately 1/3 ) and distributes as a packet to students.

Students workshop 2-3 each day for 2-3 days that week.

Your goal is to get all students to have one of their pieces “workshopped” during the semester.

See workshop handouts for more about conducting a workshop


Once a semesterWrite for publicationStudents go through their polished papers and

workshop piece(s) and choose one they want to send for publication.

Revise, edit, format for that particular publication.

Grade options: Format (typed, double space, normal font, 1”margins) Content (effort, revision, editing, proofreading) Cover letter or submission materials (mailing or email) Reflection of their overall writing improvement /

strengths / weaknesses


Argumentative / Persuasive

Advertisement Argumentative essay College application essay Debate Humor (humor essay, satire) Literary analysis essay Opinion or Editorial piece Position paper Proposal Review Satire or parody Speech

Informative / Explanatory

Biography Brochure Directions (recipe,

procedures) Experiment and procedure Explanatory essay Graphs/tables /Labels Humor (humor essay,

satire, parody) Journalism Letters Magazine article Newspaper article Personal narratives Process essay Proposal Reflective paper Report Resume Summary and paraphrase

Narrative / Fiction Autobiographies Cartoons and comics Diary or Journal Dramatic Scripts Essay of experiences Fantasy/science fiction Graphic novels Humor (narrative, satire,

parody) Legends and myths Monologues Personal essays Personal narrative and

memoir Poetry / songs Reflection Short story Tall tale or Fairy tale

This is not a complete list but provides many of the most common types of writing as categorized by Common Core. Prompts in this

document can be used for most of these types of writing. Please note: many of these forms of writing overlap the three columns. Most

writing does not fall so easily into each of these categories.

MENU

Personal

Humor

Argumentative Persuasive

Journalism

Poetry

Science Fiction / Fantasy

Myths / Legends

Narrative /Fiction

Literary

Historical

Test Writing

Main Menu

Personal

Personal

Personal

Write about three separate

incidents you experienced

involving an animal.

Personal

A break from my routine.

Personal

Personal

Intelligence without ambition is a bird

without wings.-Salvador Dali

Personal

Modern Love

Personal

The Kiss by Pablo Picasso

Personal

Lavender

Personal

Grief and loss comes in 5 stages: Denial, anger,

depression, resignation, acceptance.

Write about a loss. Switch every two minutes to focus on

each stage.

Personal

My top 5 beliefs are….

Personal

Make a list of:

The day ____ did ______ (someone)

(something)

Humor

Humor

23

Humor

You can get through very serious and sometimes horrible and sometimes

embarrassing and very awkward situations with humor. It gives us a

way out. --Janet Evanovich

24

Humor

25

Humor

manners

26

Humor

List ten ordinary things you see on a daily

basis.

Write what could be seen as humorous

about each.

27

Humor

Make a list of 20 people you know.

After making the list write an AKA (Also Known As) for each that touches on some part of

their personality.

Examplemy mother…The Queen of Guilt

my sister… the youngest hoarder in history

Argumentative and Persuasive

Argumentative and

Persuasive


Write an A-Z piece. First sentence starts with A,

second with B. Do not make a list straight down—let it flow like a paragraph. Connect the

sentences and ideas.


Freedom to WorshipNorman Rockwell


How does your freedom impact others?


If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.Desmond Tutu



civil rights


“One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

justice for all.”


Are Social Networking Sites Good for Our

Society?


18


Is a college degree worth the financial

investment?

Journalism

Journalism

40

Journalism

Choose 3 events from a current novel you have read (or movie you have seen.) Write an attention grabbing

headline to capture the main idea of that scene.

41

Journalism

42

Journalism

What are the 5 w’s and 1 h of good journalism?

Think of a recent newsworthy story that happened at your school or community

and list the 5 W’s and 1 H

43

Journalism

What to do with36 hours in ______

(a place of your choice)

See the column in NY Times

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/features/travel/columns/36_hours/index.html

44

Journalism

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free

exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the

people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Poetry

Poetry

Poetry

Use these words in a poem

rust silk

deliverwindow

Poetry

moonstone blue

Poetry

The Gulf StreamWinslow Homer

Poetry

Make a list of song titles. Create a poem using as many of these

titles as you can.

Poetry

Write a poem about

something in the room

Poetry

Write a memory poem.

(personal memory, someone else’s memory, memory you wish you could erase, when people lose memories)

Poetry

Start a poem with the first two words you see when you

look around.

Poetry

This is what (______)

(an abstract noun)

looks like…

Poetry

Girl at Mirror Norman Rockwell

Poetry

a world without….

Sci Fi / Fantasy

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Science Fiction Fantasy

Dust



Travelling through time

takes you to…


Make a list of ordinary characters / professions.

(a stay-at-home mom, a bus driver, a waitress, a teacher, a student, etc.)

Go back over list and give each a supernatural power.

Try to make the powers subtle and unusual – not just super strength, flying, invisibility.


Write your version of an alien.

Myths and Legends

Myths and Legends

63

Myths and

Legends

13

64

Myths and

Legends

Make a list of natural phenomena.Write a myth explaining a natural phenomenon.

65

Myths and

Legends

66

Myths and

Legends

Make a list of what would be moral lessons.Plot out a story to include a moral lesson.

67

Myths and

Legends

Write an A-Z piece. First sentence starts with A, second with B. Do not make a list straight down—let it flow like a paragraph. Connect the sentences and ideas.

Narrative and Fiction

Narrative and Fiction

Narrative and

Fiction

Write a brief description of a person you know. What type of person are they?

Now, reveal those traits through a dialogue.

Narrative and

Fiction

Narrative and

Fiction

Write an A-Z piece. First sentence starts with A, second

with B.

Do not make a list straight down—let it flow like a paragraph.

.Connect the sentences and ideas.

Narrative and

Fiction

Narrative and

Fiction

27

Literary

Literary

Literary

destiny

Literary

One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. - Maya Angelou

How does this quote relate to the text?

Literary

http://en.wahooart.com/@@/8BWTHD-John-William-Waterhouse-Penelope-and-the-Suitors

How does this image reflect or not reflect

your view of Penelope?

http://en.wahooart.com/@@/8BWTHD-John-William-Waterhouse-Penelope-and-the-Suitors

Literary

Write a list of famous characters. Then go

back and make connections with their

names and their characters.

Literary

Write a poem based on The Odyssey using these words

journey gravelghost

protect tunnel

Historical

Historical

Historical

Name everything you can related to the topic of ___________.Each must start with a different letter a-z.A L WB M XC N YD O ZE PF QG RH SI TJ UK V

Historical

Do you have a responsibility to

those less fortunate?

Historical

Historical

We could have _____, but we _________

Historical

The very ink with which history is

written is merely fluid prejudice.

Mark Twain

Test Writing

Test Writing

87

Test Writing

Is there something that you believe is truly worth fighting for?

Write an essay persuading others that this cause is worth a fight.

88

Test Writing

How do you feel about taking

standardized testing? Do you get

nervous, feel confident, neutral?

89

Test Writing

Louis D. Brandeis said, “Behind every

argument is someone’s ignorance.”

Describe a time when someone’s lack of

knowledge led to an argument.

90

Test Writing

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” ― Albert Einstein

Respond to this quote

91

Test Writing

Is a good education a right or a privilege?

Why do you think so? Use specific reasons

and examples to explain your answer.

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How to make the writing process work