Feb
'12
1
MAKING ‘MY PROMPTS’ WORK for YOU”
By LornaPosted in Because Writing Matters, MY Access! eNews, Lesson Plans Comments Off
This monthly tip is shared by Renae B. Salisbury, Secondary Literacy AND Dual Immersion Specialist for Jordan School District, Utah.
.
Many teachers like to create their own prompts in order to closely align a writing assignment with a unit being taught, but they have run into a few problems. Here is a check list to help alleviate possible problems.
- Before creating a prompt, search for an Intellimetric prompt that might work because students can receive feedback for all writing domains rather than a holistic score created by the “Approximator.”
- Don’t make your search too narrow by selecting too many options as you might find a great choice in grades higher or lower than your own.
- Remember to use the “Key Word” option to help you find a workable prompt.
- If you can find one that “almost works,” think of ways you might make adaptions.
- Ex. A new Middle School Intellimetric Narrative prompt is entitled “A Day When Everything Goes Wrong.”
- This prompt could be used with HUNGER GAMES where Katniss or another character writes about one of many possible days when everything goes wrong.
- OR the prompt could be used with PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and Elizabeth Bennet shares her thoughts about a day when everything goes wrong with Mr. Darcy, her mother, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins - well, the list goes on.
- If you find a prompt that is “close but no cigar,” use that prompt as a template to create your own prompt because the better written the prompt is, the better the chances are of receiving well-written student essays.
- Ex. Using the persuasive/argument prompt ”Truth and Lies” as a template, you might want to create one that is similar by …
- Finding a quotation about a value similar to truth - say Perfectionism:”They say that ‘nobody is perfect.’ Then they tell you ‘practice makes perfect.’ I wish they’d make up their minds.” ~ Wilt Chamberlin.
- Add writing instructions similar to those found in the “truth and lies template.”
- The template: Is it always necessary to tell the truth, regardless of the consequences, or are there times when it is permissible to tell a lie? What “rule” should guide a person in determining when to tell the truth or to tell a lie?
- MY Prompt: Is it really possible to achieve perfection through practice, and if so, is it advantageous or detrimental to do so? Are there times when “good enough” is better that being perfect at something? What “rule” should guide a person in using perfectionism to achieve goals.
- Writing instructions included in the template can also be used in teacher-created prompts.
- “Write a multi-paragraph essay in which you articulate your position on this issue. Be sure to support your position with relevant examples and arguments from your readings or personal experience” (MY Access Prompts).
- “As you write, remember your essay will be scored on how well you …
- develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your thesis to the audience.
- support your thesis with meaningful reasons and sufficient details.
- address the readers’ concerns, opposing viewpoints, or counterarguments.
- organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
- use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
- edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.
- Use any of the tools available to you, such as the Checklist,Spellchecker, or Graphic Organizer.
- Remember you may also include more specific instructions, links, and even outside texts (ie. novel, short story, and or non-fiction excerpts or poems) by writing or copying and pasting them in the designated space on Step 6 of setting up prompts.
- Last of all, if you are going to all this trouble, why not submit your creation as a Pilot Prompt? Click HERE for the instructions. AND send a copy to me and we’ll share with other teachers to lighten the loads for one another.
Hope this has been helpful. Till next month, take care, R.
–
Renae B. Salisbury, Secondary Literacy AND Dual Immersion Specialist for Jordan School District.
Jordan School District
Search over 200,000 categorized and reviewed educational resources with iSEEK Education. More than mere collections of hand-picked sites, the iSEEK Education “Searchblade” identifies and searches through relevant, trustworthy sources to bring you education results that you can use in your teaching efforts immediately.