RoleAudienceFormat TopicStrong Verbs

RAFTS

Become familiar with the writing strategy R.A.F.T.RolesAudienceFormatTopic

TODAY’S GOALS

WHY RAFTS?

Help students understand their role as a writer

Draws attention to audience when writing

Offers choice to studentsConsideration of a topic from multiple perspectives

Strengthens VOICE

Closure activityStrategy allows students to synthesize a vast array of their learning

Quick WriteGetting students engaged

WHEN TO USE RAFT?

RAFTS FOR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES – READING UNIT 2

Role: News reporter/Journalist 

Audience: General Public (readers) 

Format: Newspaper Report 

Topic: Explain how events from Ruby Bridges,

Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks impacted

the rights and responsibilities of people in the

United States. 

1. Using essential questions and standards, identify the writing topic.

2. Brainstorm possible roles.3. Decide the audience for this

communication.4. Using that audience, determine the

writing formatCan be used to differentiate …

STEPS IN CREATING A RAFT

• Bill of Rights• Animal in the Blank Park

Zoo• Vacations using past

tense in Spanish• Unit Rates• Stem and Leaf Plots• Analogy and Animal Farm• Polyrhythmic Work• Basketball: skills and

teamwork

1

IDENTIFY THE WRITING TOPIC

Characters from a story

Historical figuresVocab wordsInstruments/

toolsMinerals or

chemical elements

Public servant Musical

instrumentsShapes/colorsCities,

countries, continents

DiseasesTypes of FabricAuthors or

inventorsBrand name or

objectScientistsPoliticiansGeographic

formationsComposers/artistsBusiness or

industry personTechnical termsKey terms

2BRAINSTORM POSSIBLE ROLES

Elementary School students

Newspaper readersPresident of the United States

Readers of a BlogMuseum-goersTeam members

3

DECIDE THE AUDIENCE FOR THIS COMMUNI-CATION

Diary entryBulleted listObituaryRecipeMovie criticEditorialGossip column

ComicMap

Print AdSongMonologueRadiocastMuseum guide

InterviewPolitical speech

CheerSales pitch

4

DETERMINE THE WRITING FORMAT

Role Audience Format Topic

Semi-colon Middle Schoolers

Diary Entry “I wish you really understood where I belong!”

Lungs Owner of lungs Persuasive Letter

“Why you should quit smoking”

Oreo Other Oreos Travel guide “Journey through the Digestive System”

Rain Drop Future Droplets Advice Column “The Beauty of Cycles”

Square Root Whole Number Love Letter Explain Relationship

Lawyer US Supreme Court

Appeal Speech Tinker v. DM decision

OTHER EXAMPLES

Role Audience

Format Topic

MERRILL EXAMPLES

Your turn! Give it a try in your group: