SPAT-ing

1
SPAT-ing

• Your Prompt Analysis Tool

2
In each prompt- Look for SPAT

• Situation Event that causes you the need to
  write. (on test you pretend)
• Purpose The reason youre writing to
  persuade, to narrate an event, to respond to a
  text/ graphic/ chart.
• Audience The person (people) youre pretending
  to write to.
• Task The type of writing you are to do
  letter, feature article, editorial, or speech.

3
Situation

• Situation is labeled for you
• Its always the first part of the prompt
• Its a make believe situation that hasnt really
  happened to you
• It creates a need to write
• Underline key words in the situation

4
Purpose

• Look for one of these in the writing task
• Inform on a given topic(organize information by
  using main ideas and supporting details.)
• Persuade (Consider the needs/feelings of the
  audience as you solve problems and/or convince
  them. Use main ideas and supporting details.)
• Narrate for a purpose (Narrate to inform or
  persuade)

5
Audience

• Look in the writing task for the audience
• It might be an individual or a group
• You write to an audience for reasons stated in
  the prompt
• Consider what the audience needs to know, wants
  to know, and already knows
• Imagine what questions they will have for you.
  Answer them in your writing.

6
Task The Format

• Look in the writing task for the mode letter,
  feature article, editorial, speech
• Follow the format
• Letter has a date/return address, a
  greeting/salutation, a body, a closing, a
  signature
• Speeches, Editorials, and Articles have titles,
  leads, bodies, conclusions

7
Constraints of On Demand Writing

• Time (90 minutes )
• Feedback (none)
• No collaboration
• Minimally authentic
• No sources outside of your personal knowledge on
  the topic

8
The Five-Paragraph Essay
9
Paragraph 1 Intro

• Should have an engaging lead introductory
  technique
• Start broad and narrow down topic
• Should include
• Background information
• Thesis Statement

10
Thesis Statement

• Indicates your papers topic
• Identifies your position/stance on the topic--
  your opinion in sentence form
• Provides an overview of the three main supporting
  points that will unify the essay
• Usually the last sentence in the intro

11
Paragraph 2 firstBody Paragraph

• Begins with a transition phrase and topic
  sentence that identifies the main idea
• Has at least 3 supporting details
• Statements/Examples
• Reasons
• Evidence
• All of the sentences are on the same topic
• Ends with a transition sentence

12
Transition Sentence

• Usually found at the end of a body paragraph
• Makes a clear connection from one paragraph to
  the other
• Uses transition words or phrases
• Is logical
• Develops coherence in the essay

13
Common Transition Phrases Words

• First
• First of all
• Second
• Secondly
• Third
• Next
• Then
• Afterwards
• In the morning
• In the evening

• In addition
• Also
• More importantly
• Finally
• At last
• Therefore
• In summary
• In conclusion

14
Paragraph 3 Body Paragraph 2

• Begins with a transition phrase and a topic
  sentence that identifies the main idea
• Has at least 3 supporting details
• Statements/Examples
• Reasons
• Evidence
• All of the sentences are on the same topic
• Ends with a transition sentence

15
Paragraph 4 Body Paragraph 3

• Begins with a transition phrase and a topic
  sentence that identifies the main idea
• Has at least 3 supporting details
• Statements/Examples
• Reasons
• Evidence
• All of the sentences are on the same topic

16
Paragraph 5 The Conclusion

• Restates the thesis statement in different words
  (paraphrase)
• Reiterates the 3 main ideas from the body
  paragraphs
• Conclusion techniqueLeave the reader with
  something to think about OR a call to action
• DO NOT REPEAT THE SAME WORDING USED ELSEWHERE IN
  THE ESSAY