The document provides examples of writing prompts for students across various subjects like math, science, and literature. Some of the prompts ask students to: 1) Explain step-by-step how they solved word problems involving timelines or equations. 2) Describe how motions would be different on the moon compared to Earth due to weaker gravity. 3) Write an interview between a news broadcaster and scientist explaining earthquakes in California. The prompts are meant to help students practice explaining concepts and processes in writing. Rubrics are also provided to assess students' written explanations.

1. ONLINE ACTIONS IN
WRITING
CHRISTINE SCHRECK
LAE 6315- WRITERS AND WRITING: TRENDS AND ISSUES
SUMMER 2014

2. MATHEMATICS
• STUDENTS WILL USE WRITING TO EXPLAIN THEIR ANSWERS TO GIVEN WORD
PROBLEMS.

3. Dominic went to a birthday party
yesterday with his sister. They
swam for two and a half hours
after arriving at the party. They
arrived at 11:30am. What time
were they done swimming?
Draw a model to help you solve
the problem. Explain how the
model helped you find the right
answer.

4. Rubric:
3 pts- Student answered the question
correctly, created a model such as a
time line and precisely answered how
the model helped.
2 pts- Student answered the question
correctly, created a model, but gave a
partial response for their explanation.
1 pt.- Student answered correctly, no
model, and gave an attempted
response
0 pt.- Students answered incorrectly or
couldn’t explain
11:3
0
12:3
0
1:3
0
2:0
0
1 hr
1 hr 30
mins.

5. Before going to the party, Diem and
Dominic had to buy a gift for the
birthday girl. They each were able
to pick one item that they knew
she’d like. Diem chose a Frozen
doll that was $23.79, and Dominic
chose a dragon that was $15.83.
They gave the cashier a $50.00.
How much change did the cashier
need to give them back?
Write the equations it took to solve
the problem. Show how you solved
the problem.
Explain how you worked the

6. While swimming, Diem and Dominic wanted
to know how big the pool was. Their aunt told
them it was ten feet long and seven feet wide.
Explain how you could figure out the
perimeter of the swimming pool.

7. After swimming, all the kids
are so hungry. My sister
ordered pizza. Vincent ate
6/8 of a pizza. Jediah ate
5/10 of a pizza. Who ate
more pizza?
Explain how you figured out
your answer.

8. Izabella had to make goodie bags for all her friends. She
had 4 different Frozen characters and 3 different flavors
of Jolly Ranchers. How many different combinations
could end up in the bags?
Explain how you can solve your problem.

9. SCIENCE
STUDENTS WILL WRITE TO EXPLAIN THEIR LEARNING

10. Now that you’ve learned about gravity, mass,
and weight, you know that the moon is smaller
than Earth. The moon’s gravity is weaker than
Earth’s.
Write a short passage to explain how your
motions on the moon would be different from
Earth if you were an astronaut.

11. When going to the beach, your mom makes a list to
be prepared. She brings towels, a beach umbrella,
and of course, snacks and water.
But right before you get there, she realizes she forgot
sunscreen. So she stops at CVS, but you look out the
window and see that it’s starting to get cloudy.
Explain why your mom still wants to have sunscreen
even though there are clouds in the sky.

12. You are a news broadcaster stationed in
California. It is your job to tell your viewers
what happens during an earthquake.
Write an interview between you and Dr.
La’Earth, a well known scientist, for your
viewers. Your interview should explain what
happens during an earthquake, ways of
predicting them, and infer how it will
eventually change California.

13. After reading about Edward being landing in a dump
(The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane) and
studying about different types of pollution, write a
short story about what life for Edward would have
been like if he was never found and had to continue
to live in the dump. You must address the different
types of pollution in your story.

14. You are a writer for the best kid science
show, Wild Kratts. Your job is to write an
episode involving a predator and a prey.
Think of how Chris and Martin can help
young children understand how predators
and prey interact.
Example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osLa3Wl
5Qf8

15. 3 2 1
Narrative stories
have a beginning,
middle, and end
The stories have
a clear beginning,
middle, and end.
The story is
mostly organized
with some ideas
repeating.
The story is
disorganized.
Important pieces
are missing.
Science
information is
included is
factual
All information is
accurately
represented.
Most information
is factual.
Student is
missing science
connection.
Neat and spelled
correctly
Very neatly
written and most
words are written
correctly
Mostly neat and
words are
generally spelled
correctly
Hard to read
and/or many
misspellings

16. 3 2 1
Format of
expository
Format is
correct with
punctuation and
organization
Format is
mostly correct.
Lacks
organization
Science content
information
included
Content is
included and is
accurate and
has big ideas
Most content is
correct but is
missing some
big ideas
Lacks big ideas
and very
simplistic