WRITING ROULETTEActivator/Summarizer

PURPOSE This strategy is used to discover what

students know/learned about a topic, using continual writing to help students reclaim information and/or share their knowledge with peers.

DESCRIPTION Writing Roulette is a writing strategy in

which students write about a topic non-stop for a designated amount of time.

Students then exchange their writing with peers and extend it by adding their own thoughts.

This strategy allows students to quickly gather their thoughts about a topic and inform teachers and peers of the extent of their knowledge about the topic without being limited by having to heed the conventions of grammar and mechanics.

PROCEDURE STEP ONE Students write about a topic for three to five

minutes continuously. Tip: Even if the student gets stuck they should

continue writing. They may write “I’m stuck. I have no idea what this topic is about.” Encourage them to write predictions or guesses since there is no right or wrong responses during this exercise. You may need to model how to do this quick write.

PROCEDURE STEP TWO Ask for volunteers to share and discuss

responses. EXCHANGE papers with a peer (pass to the

right), read the peer’s response, and add to it by fast writing for another two to three minutes. Tip: You may want to have each writer put their

name by their response, this will help you to identify who wrote each piece.

PROCEDURE STEP THREE Each time you

exchange (recommended 4 times) decrease the response time.

If using this as an activator, have students revisit their writing roulette at the end of the activity to correct, revise, or add to their initial responses.

SAMPLE W

RITING

ROU

LETTE

Notice how

person #2

commented on

the writing

style of person

#1 in addition to

the topic at

hand. This is OK

we don’t want

to limit their

writing during

this time. Person

#3 agreed with

person #2 and

elaborated on

her question.