Writing to a Prompt using Writing to a Prompt using a 4-square Graphic a 4-square Graphic

OrganizerOrganizer

DWA PreparationDWA Preparation

What is writing to a promptWhat is writing to a prompt

A prompt is a topic you are A prompt is a topic you are asked to write about.asked to write about.

4 types of Prompts4 types of Prompts

NarrativeNarrative ExpositoryExpository PersuasivePersuasive DescriptiveDescriptive

Narrative EssayNarrative Essay A narrative tells a story. It could A narrative tells a story. It could

be fiction or non-fiction. It be fiction or non-fiction. It includes a beginning, middle, includes a beginning, middle, and end. and end.

Example: Write a story about a Example: Write a story about a time when you were sad.time when you were sad.

Clue words – narrate, tell a story Clue words – narrate, tell a story about, write about a time, what about, write about a time, what happened whenhappened when

Expository EssayExpository Essay

Expository is another word for Expository is another word for explaining. In an expository explaining. In an expository essay you may be asked to give essay you may be asked to give information about something. information about something. You may be asked to explain You may be asked to explain something. something.

Example: Tell me what your Example: Tell me what your favorite sport is and why.favorite sport is and why.

Clue words: Explain, tell why, Clue words: Explain, tell why, talk about, write why.talk about, write why.

Descriptive EssayDescriptive Essay In a descriptive essay you In a descriptive essay you

describe a thing, person, event describe a thing, person, event or place. or place.

Example: Tell about a cold Example: Tell about a cold winter day.winter day.

Clue words: describe, tell about Clue words: describe, tell about an object, what does it look and an object, what does it look and feel like, write so your reader feel like, write so your reader can see, picture in your mindcan see, picture in your mind

Persuasive EssayPersuasive Essay

To persuade someone is to convince To persuade someone is to convince them to agree with you. Your job is them to agree with you. Your job is decide your point of view and write decide your point of view and write arguments to persuade your reader arguments to persuade your reader to share your view.to share your view.

Example: Should limits be placed on Example: Should limits be placed on the amount of television children are the amount of television children are allowed to watch?allowed to watch?

Clue words: Should there be, Clue words: Should there be, convince your reader, support your convince your reader, support your view, make an argument.view, make an argument.

Deciding what kind of promptDeciding what kind of prompt

Everyone has a favorite Everyone has a favorite possession. Tell what your possession. Tell what your favorite possession is and why favorite possession is and why it’s important to you.it’s important to you.

Expository!Expository!

Everyone has good days and Everyone has good days and bad days. Write a story about bad days. Write a story about the best day you ever had.the best day you ever had.

NarrativeNarrative

Imagine your family is planning a trip. Imagine your family is planning a trip. You can visit anywhere in the world. You can visit anywhere in the world. Think of where you would like to go, and Think of where you would like to go, and why. Write an essay that would convince why. Write an essay that would convince your family to go to the place you choose.your family to go to the place you choose.

PersuasivePersuasive

A person you know is planning to A person you know is planning to move to your town. She has move to your town. She has written to you to ask you what it is written to you to ask you what it is like. Write an essay describing like. Write an essay describing your town to her.your town to her.

DescriptiveDescriptive

Your parents are trying to decide Your parents are trying to decide whether to get a pet. Think if you whether to get a pet. Think if you would like to have a pet, and if so would like to have a pet, and if so what pet you would like. Then what pet you would like. Then write an essay to persuade your write an essay to persuade your family to your opinion.family to your opinion.

PersuasivePersuasive

Think about your favorite food. Think about your favorite food. In an essay, give reasons for In an essay, give reasons for liking this food best. liking this food best.

ExpositoryExpository

Make up a story about what is in a Make up a story about what is in a basket. basket.

NarrativeNarrative

Write a letter to a friend telling Write a letter to a friend telling what you would pack for a picnic what you would pack for a picnic and why.and why.

ExpositoryExpository

Steps to writing to a promptSteps to writing to a prompt

Decide what kind of writing the Decide what kind of writing the prompt is asking forprompt is asking for

Plan your writingPlan your writing Write first draftWrite first draft Revise writingRevise writing ProofreadProofread

Why organize?Why organize?

Makes your writing more Makes your writing more understandableunderstandable

You won’t forget anythingYou won’t forget anything

Listen to two examples:Listen to two examples:

Using a 4-square to organize Using a 4-square to organize an Expository Essayan Expository Essay

Supporting Idea Supporting Idea

Supporting Idea

Wrap up sentence

Topic Sentence

Pretzels Popcorn

Peanuts Pretzels, popcorn, and peanuts are snacks.

Snacks

3 supporting ideas and a wrap up 3 supporting ideas and a wrap up sentencesentence

Your TurnYour Turn

Sports Equipment

3 supporting ideas3 supporting ideas

Center of the box now has a Center of the box now has a complete sentencecomplete sentence

First three boxes must contain First three boxes must contain reasonsreasons

Must prove the topic sentence Must prove the topic sentence truetrue

Must be real reasons Must be real reasons

Easy to cook Fun to eat

Delicious

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy to cook, fun to eat, and delicious.

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

Your TurnYour Turn

My favorite sport is __________

ChecklistChecklist

Are the four square reasons Are the four square reasons quantifiable and not opinion?quantifiable and not opinion?

Is there repetition of detail?Is there repetition of detail?

Adding supporting detailsAdding supporting details Our story so far would read as follows:Our story so far would read as follows:

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. My favorite meal is My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. My favorite meal is

spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy. My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy. My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s fun to eat. My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s fun to eat. My favorite meal is spaghetti because it’s delicious. My favorite meal is spaghetti and spaghetti because it’s delicious. My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy, fun to eat, and delicious.meatballs because it’s easy, fun to eat, and delicious.

We need to elaborate – add details. We need to elaborate – add details. We will add 3 details to each square. We will add 3 details to each square. These details will clarify or give These details will clarify or give

examples of the phrase at the top of examples of the phrase at the top of the square.the square.

It’s easy

•Roll up meat

•Throw in pot

•Pour store-bought sauce

It’s fun to eat

•Twirl on fork

•Slurp it

•Splatter the sauce

It’s delicious

•Tomatoes

•Italian spices

•Filling meat

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy to make, fun to eat and delicious.

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

Your TurnYour TurnReason:

Detail

Detail

Detail

Reason:

Detail

Detail

Detail

Reason:

Detail

Detail

Detail

Wrap up sentence

My favorite sport is ___________

ChecklistChecklist

Are the details logical Are the details logical expansion of the reasons?expansion of the reasons?

Are the details factual and free Are the details factual and free of opinion?of opinion?

Are there gross mechanical Are there gross mechanical problems in the wrap-up problems in the wrap-up sentence?sentence?

Using connecting wordsUsing connecting words

Choose a connecting word and Choose a connecting word and put at the top of each square.put at the top of each square.

Use the handout to help you Use the handout to help you choose appropriate connecting choose appropriate connecting words for each square.words for each square.

First

It’s easy

•Roll up meat

•Throw in pot

•Pour store-bought sauce

Also

It’s fun to eat•Twirl on fork

•Slurp it

•Splatter the sauce

Third

It’s delicious•Tomatoes

•Italian spices

•Filling meat

So you can see

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy to make, fun to eat and delicious.

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

Your TurnYour TurnConnecting word

Reason:

Detail

Detail

Detail

Connecting word

Reason:

Detail

Detail

Detail

Connecting word

Reason:

Detail

Detail

Detail

Connecting word

Wrap up sentence

My favorite sport is ___________

Vivid languageVivid language

What sounds better?What sounds better? The water was cold.The water was cold. The water felt like ice.The water felt like ice.

Think of your senses – how Think of your senses – how does it feel, taste, smell, look, does it feel, taste, smell, look, feel?feel?

Add a vivid detail to each Add a vivid detail to each supporting detail.supporting detail.

First

It’s easy•Roll up meat

•Golf balls

•Throw in pot

•Huge cauldron-size

•Pour store-bought sauce

•Prego

Also

It’s fun to eat•Twirl on fork

•Looks like a twister

•Slurp it

•Loud smacking noises

•Splatter the sauce

•Like an explosion

Third

It’s delicious•Tomatoes

•Red and tangy

•Italian spices

•Zippy garlic

•Filling meat

•Like a hamburger

So you can see

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy to make, fun to eat and delicious.

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

Your turnYour turnConnecting word

Reason:

•Detail

•vivid

•Detail

•Vivid

•Detail

•vivid

Connecting word

Reason:•Detail

•vivid•Detail

•vivid•Detail

•vivid

Connecting word

Reason:•Detail

•vivid•Detail

•Vivid•Detail

•vivid

Connecting word

Wrap up sentence

My favorite sport is ___________

ChecklistChecklist

Do the added vivids add more Do the added vivids add more information to the details?information to the details?

Have you used a thesaurus to Have you used a thesaurus to find the best possible word?find the best possible word?

Have you checked your Have you checked your punctuation? How about your punctuation? How about your grammar?grammar?

Taking the writing off the organizerTaking the writing off the organizer

2 3

45

1

My essayMy essayMy favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

First, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy. You simply roll up the meat into golf-ball sized pieces, then throw it in the pot. I use a huge, cauldron-size pot. Pour on the store-bought sauce. My favorite brand is Prego.

Also, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s fun to eat. I like to twirl it on my fork. It looks like a twister. It’s fun to slurp because it makes a loud smacking noise. I always splatter the sauce. When I’m done, it looks like an explosion.

Third, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s delicious. I like the tangy taste of red tomatoes. The Italian spices are great, especially the zippy garlic. The meat is very filling, like a hamburger.

So you can see, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy, fun to eat, and delicious.

Your turnYour turn

Read your 4-square to a partner Read your 4-square to a partner or in your peer editing groupor in your peer editing group

Do the sentences flow well?Do the sentences flow well? Have you used the right tense Have you used the right tense

throughout the essay?throughout the essay? Is your topic sentence clear?Is your topic sentence clear? How are your hook and How are your hook and

conclusion?conclusion?

Improving the introductionImproving the introduction

First paragraphFirst paragraph HookHook Topic sentenceTopic sentence Wrap up sentenceWrap up sentence Personal/reflective sentencePersonal/reflective sentence

My favorite meal is spaghetti and My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. It’s my favorite because meatballs. It’s my favorite because it’s easy to make, fun to eat and it’s easy to make, fun to eat and delicious. I could eat spaghetti and delicious. I could eat spaghetti and meatballs for dinner every night.meatballs for dinner every night.

Improving the closing paragraphImproving the closing paragraph Final paragraphFinal paragraph

Summarize main points and then wrap-Summarize main points and then wrap-up sentence with connecting wordup sentence with connecting word

Personal / Reflective sentence, Personal / Reflective sentence, question or exclamationquestion or exclamation

So you can see, my favorite meal is So you can see, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy to make, fun to eat and easy to make, fun to eat and delicious. I am making some delicious. I am making some tonight. Would you like to come tonight. Would you like to come over for dinner?over for dinner?

Your TurnYour Turn

Write an intro and closing Write an intro and closing paragraph.paragraph.

Using the 4-square method to Using the 4-square method to write an essaywrite an essay ExpositoryExpository

Gives informationGives information States reasons or examplesStates reasons or examples Must have connecting wordsMust have connecting words Few quotationsFew quotations

NarrativeNarrative EntertainsEntertains Has eventsHas events Connecting words as neededConnecting words as needed More dialogueMore dialogue

The best day of my life

The best day of my life

Friends Games

Food

skydive Land safely

Meet the

president

Expository

Narrative

Event Event

Event

Big Ending

Topic plus

Who?

What?

Where?

When?

Why?

Time connector: In the beginning

Event: Cat food commercial came on

Details

•Dancing cats

•Top hats

•Singing about food

•“meow-yum”

•I said it was cute

•laughed

Time connector: During the commercial

Event: My cat hissed

Details

•Arched his back

•Angry

•His hair stood up

•Like a porcupine

•Loud scream

• Ear splitting

Time connector: Just then

Event: He started talking

Details

•Called the commercial foolish

•Snarled

•Said the food was gross

•For dogs

•Told me never to buy it

•I thought it was his favorite.

Time connector: Since that day

Big ending:

•He has never spoken again

•I stopped buying that cat food.

•My cat has restrictions on his TV time.

When my cat started talking

Who? My cat and I

What? Relaxing

Where? At home

When? In the evening

Why? It had been a long day

Completed Narrative EssayCompleted Narrative EssayOne evening I was relaxing at home. My cat and I were

watching television. It had been a long day, and I needed some time to wind down.

In the beginning of our favorite show, a commercial came on for a brand of cat food I usually buy. This commercial had adorable little dancing cats. They were wearing black top hats. The cats were also singing about the cat food. “Meow-yum, meow-yum,” they sang. I thought it was cute, and I laughed out loud.

During this commercial my cat hissed, which is not something he usually does. He arched his back and looked quite angry. The hair on his back was standing up like porcupine quills. He let out an ear-splitting scream.

Just then he started talking. He called the commercial foolish and snarled at the television. My cat told me that brand of cat food was gross, and it was only good for dogs, which means that it must be pretty bad. Then he told me never to buy it again. I had always thought he liked the stuff.

Since that day my cat has not spoken again. I did stop buying that brand of cat food. But because of his ill-mannered hissing and growling, my cat has had a limit placed on his television time.

Your turnYour turn

Prompt:Prompt:

Think back to when you had a Think back to when you had a happy experience. Remember happy experience. Remember where you were and what where you were and what happened. Write a story about happened. Write a story about that happy experiencethat happy experience

Now complete the 4-squareNow complete the 4-square