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: