Understanding writing prompts

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Understanding writing prompts

• When you know what is being asked, you can answer
  the question better.

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Just remember F.A.T.-P.
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Focus

• How are you responding to this prompt? What are
  your opinions on the topic? What are your ideas
  that may be different than others ideas?

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Audience

• Who is going to be reading this paper?
• This does not mean that the essay is a letter.
• Knowing who your audience is helps you to figure
  out what type of language to use.
• Are you writing something formal for the
  administrators (Dr. Smith, Mr. Carter, and Mrs.
  Boyer), the P.T.A., or the newspaper? Is this
  informal for your peers?

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Topic

• What is this paper about? Introduce and talk
  about the prompt, give background.

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Purpose

• Why are you writing this paper? Is it to convince
  someone to do something? (Persuasive)
• Are you telling a story? (Narrative)
• Are you explaining something? (Expository)
• Are you describing something in great detail?
  (Descriptive)

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Because this is the fourth nine weeks, the
answer for this assignment is going to be that
you are explaining something. You are writing an
expository essay.
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Writing prompt example 1 Pizza is a
favorite food for many people. Not everyone
agrees on how a pizza should be made. What do you
think should be on your pizza? How should the
pizza be put together?
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Write an essay explaining the process and the
ingredients that should be used.
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F.A.T.-P.

• What is your FOCUS?
• Who is your AUDIENCE?
• What is your TOPIC?
• What is the PURPOSE of the paper?
• FIGURE THIS OUT FIRST and ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
  in the introductory paragraph.

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Yes, your introductory paragraph should be
long. You will probably be writing seven or more
sentences. Dont be surprised. This is how you
get an excellent grade.
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Now, figure out what your three main points are.

• Before your write, decide on your bubble sheet
  what your first main point is
• Decide what your second main point will be.
• Decide what your third main point will be.
• NOW PUT ALL THREE INTO YOUR INTRODUCTORY
  PARAGRAPH!

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Writing prompt example 2 Isle of Wight
County is a wonderful place to live. If someone
were to visit this county, explain what
attractions they could hope to see or activities
they might do.
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Now do the steps for yourself.
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F.A.T.-P.

• What is your FOCUS?
• Who is your AUDIENCE?
• What is your TOPIC?
• What is the PURPOSE of the paper?
• FIGURE THIS OUT FIRST and ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
  in the introductory paragraph.

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Now, figure out what your three main points are.

• Before your write, decide on your bubble sheet
  what your first main point is
• Decide what your second main point will be.
• Decide what your third main point will be.
• NOW PUT ALL THREE INTO YOUR INTRODUCTORY
  PARAGRAPH!

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If you finish before your classmates, think
about how you can use your words so that your
introductory paragraph flows in an interesting
way. You dont want it to sound choppy.
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Example 3 Teachers notice when walking in
the hallway that several students have an
aversion to neatness. Explain to a messy student
the advantages of having a tidy locker.
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Do F.A.T.-P. and three details. When you are
done, shape your response into a well-written
introductory paragraph.