1. Writing Prompts:<\/span> Writing prompts guide, focus, and also limit students in their writing. Students must enter the world of the prompt and address the prompt.<\/p>\n 2. Writing Across The Curriculum (WAC):<\/span> Teachers have students write to learn subject content.<\/p>\n 3. Teaching Writing Across The Curriculum<\/a> (TWAC):<\/span> Teachers have students write to learn subject content, while also learning how to write better.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n When we create writing prompts to teach writing across the curriculum, we have two primary goals:<\/p>\n 1. We want to teach writing. If you look over The Definitive List of Writing and Grammar Skills<\/a><\/strong>, you will find many more types of writing prompts that you can create\u2014many, many more! However, what follows is an excellent start\u2014Seven Genres x Seven School Subjects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Seven Genres:<\/span> 1) Essay, 2) Expository, 3) Narrative, 4) Imaginative Narrative, 5) Persuasive\/ Argument\/Opinion, 6) Descriptive, 7) Journal and Learning Log<\/p>\n Seven School Subjects:<\/span> 1) Science, 2) Social Studies, 3) History, 4) Reading Comprehension, 5) Math, 6) Physical Education, 7) Going on a Field Trip<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n Keep in mind that we can combine many of these types of prompts with format genres such as articles, letters, etc. Furthermore, we can combine them with other adjectival genres and patterns of organization. As an example, the use of cause-and-effect can be a requirement for most any prompt.<\/p>\n As you will see, I\u2019ve underlined<\/span> all of the words related to writing<\/span>\u2014that is, the vocabulary of writing. Although I have underlined some words related to the specific directions, I mainly focused on the writing vocabulary words<\/span>, which includes concepts such as the writing process, purpose, and the rhetorical triangle. Furthermore, many of the writing prompts are exaggerated in the sense that they are stuffed full of writing words, writing skills, and writing concepts. I do this to illustrate what\u2019s possible, and I could have gone much further. Please spend some time thinking about why I may have underlined a word. Consider how it relates to writing from a writer\u2019s perspective. You may want to browse The Definitive List of Writing and Grammar Skills<\/a><\/strong> before you do.<\/p>\n By the way, if you teach beginning writers or struggling writers, be sure to read my free eBook on how to scaffold writing assignments across the curriculum<\/a><\/strong>. And if you want to get amazing results teaching writing across the curriculum, it\u2019s much easier and faster if you have the Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay<\/a><\/strong><\/span> foundation and framework. Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay<\/a><\/strong><\/span> is the missing piece of the puzzle that makes teaching writing easy! Be sure to check it out on the homepage. Let\u2019s begin!<\/p>\n 1. Essay Writing Prompts:<\/span> Students will explain or expound on something from their point of view. An essay communicates a personal interpretation, understanding, or reflection on a topic or experience.<\/p>\n a. History:<\/span> We have learned<\/span> something about four different wars: 1) The Revolutionary War, 2) The Civil War, 3) World War II, and 4) The Vietnam War. Is war right<\/span> or wrong<\/span> or something else<\/span>? Provide<\/span> facts<\/span>, examples<\/span>, and other types<\/span> of information<\/span> from what you have learned<\/span> to support<\/span> your position<\/span>. Be sure to explain<\/span> how<\/span> they support<\/span> your position<\/span>.<\/p>\n b. Science:<\/span> With a changing climate, polar bears are struggling. How<\/span> important are polar bears? What can<\/span> we do and what should<\/span> we do (if anything<\/span>) to save them? To what extent<\/span> and at what cost<\/span> must we take action<\/span> to save them?<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n 2. Expository Writing Prompts:<\/span> Students will produce an informational\/explanatory piece of writing. Remember that students must have the required knowledge to write about the topic. Informational\/explanatory writing requires an understanding of the facts. If students have finished a textbook chapter, they either have the facts or know where to find the facts. Furthermore, many school subjects relate to students\u2019 own lives: e.g., animals, community, how to do something, etc.<\/p>\n a. Science:<\/span> How<\/span> do each of the three types of rocks form? Make a 3-column chart<\/span> listing<\/span> the process<\/span> for the formation for each type of rock. Use<\/span> this as prewriting<\/span> to write a short paragraph or two<\/span> for each type of rock explaining<\/span> the process<\/span> of rock formation.<\/p>\n b. History:<\/span> Here are three reasons<\/span> colonists came to America. Briefly explain<\/span> each reason<\/span>.<\/p>\n c. Science:<\/span> In one or two paragraphs<\/span>, explain<\/span> how<\/span> water, ice, and steam are related. Try to use cause-and-effect<\/span>, process<\/span>, sequence<\/span>, and definition<\/span> to help you explain<\/span>.<\/p>\n d. Reading Comprehension:<\/span> Write two moral-of-the-story<\/span> statements<\/span> or theme statements<\/span> based on the story we just read. Use these two complex-sentence<\/span> patterns<\/span>:<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 \u00a0If\u2026 then\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 \u00a0Although\u2026 people\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n After that, break<\/span> each complex sentence<\/span> into two kernel sentences<\/span>.<\/p>\n e. Physical Education:<\/span> We learned two basketball skills today. Each skill was made up<\/span> or composed<\/span> of steps<\/span>, and those steps<\/span> formed a process<\/span>. We learned the steps<\/span> that we take to pass the basketball, and we learned the steps<\/span> that we take to shoot the basketball. You will now write an isolated<\/span> process<\/span> paragraph<\/span> for each basketball skill. In each process<\/span> paragraph<\/span>, you will teach<\/span> your audience<\/span> step by step<\/span> how to<\/span> perform the basketball skill.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n 3. Narrative Writing Prompts:<\/span> Students will narrate various types of actions, sequences, and events, including personal, biographical, historical, narrative lab reports, and news stories.<\/p>\n a. Science:<\/span> You just finished a science experiment. In a linear<\/span> narrative<\/span> format<\/span>, tell<\/span> what happened<\/span>. Be sure to tell<\/span> what you did<\/span> and what<\/span> thoughts<\/span> ran through your head as you worked on the experiment\u2014i.e., reflect<\/span> on your thinking.<\/p>\n b. Social Studies:<\/span> Here are five facts<\/span> about the Revolutionary War. Number them in the order<\/span> that they happened<\/span>. Now write a narrative<\/span> paragraph or two<\/span>. Since this is an exercise, use<\/span> or even overuse<\/span> one or more time<\/span>, order<\/span>, or place<\/span> transition<\/span> or signal word<\/span>s in each sentence. These events<\/span> are largely based on cause-and-effect<\/span>, so be sure to weave<\/span> that aspect<\/span> into your narrative<\/span>.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n 4. Imaginative Narrative Writing Prompts:<\/span> Students will use their imagination to create a narrative story. Although this frequently falls into the category of creative writing, it also functions as a learning tool across the curriculum. As an example, if the class has been studying the rain forest, here is an imaginative narrative prompt connected to the learning:<\/p>\n a. Science:<\/span> Imagine<\/span> that you are the rain forest<\/em>. Tell<\/span> a story<\/span> of what<\/span> has happened<\/span> in your life<\/span> over the last year or two<\/span>.<\/p>\n b. Math:<\/span> Write a short story<\/span> about two groups of characters<\/span> that combine to create one group. Be sure to bring<\/span> the concepts<\/span> of addition, parts and whole, and fractions into your story<\/span>.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n 5. Persuasive\/Argument\/Opinion Writing Prompts:<\/span> Students will take a position and logically argue for that position. Students will present claims, reasons, and evidence.<\/p>\n a. Reading Comprehension:<\/span> You just read an article<\/span> where a writer presented<\/span> an argument<\/span> on why<\/span> school uniforms should<\/span> be required. Create<\/span> an outline<\/span> of the writer\u2019s argument<\/span>, including the writer\u2019s claims<\/span>, reasons<\/span>, evidence<\/span>, support<\/span>, and commentary<\/span>. Now choose<\/span> one or more of the writer\u2019s reasons<\/span> or claim<\/span>s and refute<\/span> them. Use<\/span> the writer\u2019s argument<\/span> to guide<\/span> you and inspire<\/span> you in your argument<\/span>. First, create<\/span> an outline<\/span> using PPE<\/span> (Point<\/span>, Proof<\/span>, and Explanation<\/span>). Then write a paragraph<\/span> for each.<\/p>\n b. Going on a Field Trip:<\/span> You have already learned<\/span> the rules, procedures, rewards, and consequences for our field trip. Write a letter<\/span> to<\/span> your classmates<\/span> to persuade<\/span> them to be on their best behavior. Be sure to provide<\/span> motivating<\/span> and persuasive<\/span> claims<\/span>, reasons<\/span>, evidence<\/span>, support<\/span>, and commentary<\/span>.<\/p>\n c. History:<\/span> We have studied both<\/span> sides<\/span> of the argument<\/span> regarding the United States\u2019 involvement in Vietnam. You are going to write a 1-2 paragraph<\/span> argument<\/span> for each<\/span> side<\/span> of the argument. For prewriting<\/span>, do a brainstorm<\/span> and create<\/span> a logical<\/span> outline<\/span> that contains a claim<\/span>, The Two Primary Goals<\/h3>\n
\n2. We want to teach subject content.<\/p>\n![\"pencil](\"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/teaching_writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/pencil-and-paper.jpg\")
Do you teach beginning writers or struggling writers? If you do, be sure to check out Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay on the homepage!<\/span><\/a>\nWriting Prompts for Seven Genres x Seven School Subjects<\/h3>\n
Writing Vocabulary Words and Underlines<\/h3>\n
Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay is the fastest, most effective way to teach students organized multi-paragraph writing\u2026 Guaranteed!<\/span><\/a>\n