Attacking the Prompt

Why ATTACK the prompt?

So, youll know the:

SUBJECT
PURPOSE
AUDIENCE
FORMAT

Youll answer the question asked, not the one you make up.
Youll have a plan for writing your response.

S.P.A.F
SUBJECT ______________________________
(What am I writing about?)

PURPOSE __________________________
(Why am I writing this essay?)

AUDIENCE __________________________
(Who will read my response?)

FORMAT ____________________________
(What format should I use?)

Steps:
Step 1: Read the prompt.
Step 2: Read the prompt again.
Step 3: Circle/underline key words.
Step 4: Figure out your task subject, purpose, audience, format.

SUBJECT
Prompts provide information regarding subject material, i.e. key
words or term specific jargon.
Example: legislators, state budget
What kind of subject do you think these words indicate?

PURPOSE
Pay attention to the question words what are you supposed to
do?
Determine the subject or issue in the prompt.
Most prompts give background information to help you frame your
response (context).

AUDIENCE
Who are you writing for?
Some prompts (especially persuasive prompts) ask you to write to
a specific person or group.
Adjust your language and approach your audience.

FORMAT
What approach should you take:

Persuasive
Expository, or
Compare/Contrast
Cause/Effect

Prompt Key Words (1)

Explain describe something in detail so that is more clearly understood.
Identify indicate what a thing is, when and where it occurs.
Illustrate give one or more examples of the topic, relating each to the topic.
Interpret explain what something means in your own words.
Relate show how the topic had an effect on something else and/or the
connection(s) between two things.
Analyze separate something into parts and discuss/examine each part.
Describe give an account of something by giving details, characteristics, qualities,
and parts.
Summarize give a shortened accounts, including the main points and highlights.

Prompt Key Words (2)

Compare show how two things are both alike and different.
Contrast show only the differences between two things.
Evaluate give an opinion telling the positive and negative qualities of something.
Agree/Disagree give your opinion about the topic. Express either a positive or a
negative opinion and support it.

Breaking Down the Prompt

What is one important goal you would like to achieve in the next few years?
In your essay, identify that one goal and explain how you plan to achieve it. Use
your personal observations, experience, and knowledge to support your essay.
Notice the action verbs identify and explain. These two words tell you how you
should write about your topic. Make sure to do both. The essay prompt is asking you
to identify and explain your topic.
Notice the words personal observations, experience, and knowledge. These are all
subjects that you can talk about in your essay. The word personal is also extremely
important here. Youre not being asked to do outside research or reading, but
instead, to talk about observations, experience, and knowledge that are personal to
you.

Breaking Down the Prompt

We all have activities that we enjoy.
Think of one particular activity that you enjoy. Now identify that one activity and
explain why you enjoy that particular activity.
Topic: the focus of the writing
Activities we enjoy
Key words: Put a box around the key words.
Repeating words: Underline any words that are repeated.
One activity that we enjoy doing and reasons why we enjoy it.

Practice Prompt 1
Some high schools require drug tests for all students who want to
participate in a school sport. Before adopting this policy, your
schools principal has asked for student opinions. Write a letter to
the principal stating your position. Support your position with
reasons and examples. Persuade the principal to agree with you.

S.P.A.F Practice Prompt 1

Subject: What am I writing about?
Purpose: Why am I writing the essay?
Audience: Who will read my response?
Format: What format should I use?

Practice Prompt 2
Arizona legislators are trying to find ways to balance the state
budget. They announced that school funding will be severely cut.
Administrators at your school must make the difficult decision to
eliminate one school program. What program do you think should be
cut at your school? Write an essay identifying the program you feel
should be eliminated. Support your position with reasons and
examples. Persuade your school administrators to agree with you.

S.P.A.F. Practice Prompt 2

Subject: What am I writing about?
Purpose: Why am I writing the essay?
Audience: Who will read my response?
Format: What format should I use?

Practice Prompt 3
Technology is advancing rapidly. Do you agree or disagree that
technology has improved your life? Write a persuasive essay in which
you convince the reader of your position.

S.P.A.F. Practice Prompt 3

Subject: What am I writing about?
Purpose: Why am I writing the essay?
Audience: Who will read my response?
Format: What format should I use?

Thesis Statements
Clearly states the position you will support in the body paragraphs.
Helps readers predict the structure of your essay.
Fully responds to the writing prompt.
Is placed at the end of your essays introduction.
Does NOT use I think, I believe, In my opinion
Is NOT a question.
Is NOT an unsupportable opinion. You must have reasons, facts,
examples to back it up.

Thesis Statement for Prompt 1

Which is better?
Most high school athletes are drug free, so requiring testing would be a waste
of time and money.
OR
I am against drug testing for student athletes.

Thesis Statement for Prompt 2:

Which is better?
Amphitheater High School should cut the cafeteria because the food sucks
anyway.
OR
Amphitheater High School should save money by eliminating the school
library.

Thesis Statement for Prompt 3

Which is better?
I would be lost without my iPod, my computer, and my cell phone!

OR
Technology has improved my life in the areas of entertainment, education,
and communication.

Create Your Own Writing Prompt

Writing prompts are descriptions of situations to interest students in a topic and
encourage them to write about it in a thoughtful and creative way.
Effective writing prompts include two basic components: a situation and directions.
The situation presents the general topic students are to write about.
The directions describe a specific task students mustcomplete as they respond
to the situation. The directions should be stated in a way that encourages students
to share their knowledge and experience and apply it to the situation presented.

Create Your Own Writing Prompt

Before creating your own writing prompt, consider:
What you want the assignment to require the students to do. What
outcomes are most important? How can the assignment move
students closer to achieving the outcomes?
What you want the assignment to do. What questions, in
particular, do you want your students to consider?
Your students writing processes.
If the prompt requires research, outline your research
requirements.

Create Your Own Writing Prompt

Once the outcomes are determined,

Break the assignment down into specific tasks, goals, and criteria.
Break the assignment down into specific questions.
Provide context.
Craft each sentence carefully. Consider the language employed.
Be clear about what you dont want.
Be clear about the paper requirements.
Try to rite (or at least to outline) the assignment yourself.

Extension: Create Your Own Writing Prompt

Exchange writing prompts with another group.
Analyze that groups writing prompt:

Does it meet the requirements of a writing prompt?

Use the S.P.A.F. method
Outline the assignment: how would you complete this assignment?
Suggestions to make it a stronger prompt