This document outlines a mini-lesson for 4th grade students on analyzing writing prompts. It discusses having students: 1) Read and analyze a sample writing prompt that asks them to imagine being a government employee writing a journal entry about a relief effort they helped with by using a situation from the text "Solving Problems". 2) Create a two-column note sheet to analyze prompts by identifying the text type, source material, required details, and how they will use details before writing. 3) Discuss in a collaborative conversation potential details for their character, their area of government work, the relief effort they helped with, and what they did to help.

1. Grade 4, Unit 1, Week 1, Mini-Lesson 3 (15-20 min.)

2. I will be able to:
Read and analyze a single-source writing prompt,
including its purpose.
Share ideas and build on ideas through collaborative
conversation.
Recognize the need to gather information to respond
to the prompt.

3. This week we will woite a narrative text based on
the prompt we will find on page 11. Today, I will
show you how to read and analyze a writing prompt
to ensure you can address the writing task
accurately.
How can we begin to analyze a writing prompt?

4. I will use a different writing prompt to write my
narrative. I will use this to model writing
stratagies for you. Let’s take a look at my writing
prompt:
Imagine that you are a government employee who
has just taken part in a major relief effort. Write a
journal entry describing what happened an how you
helped. Use a situation mentioned in “Solving
Problems” as the basis for your narrative.

5. Analyze the Prompt Question
What text type and/or genre are
you being asked to write?
Answer
Text type: narrative
Genre: journal entry

6. Analyze the Prompt Question
What source must you
use as the basis for your
writing?
Answer
“Solving Problems”

7. Analyze the Prompt Question
What details or evidence
from the text will you need
to look for?
Answer
situations that require
efforts by government
workers

8. Analyze the Prompt Question
How will you use the
details and evidence?
Answer
I will use one of the
situations mentioned in the
article as the basis form my
character’s journal entry.

9. Analyze the Prompt Question
How will you use the
details and evidence?
Answer
I will use one of the
situations mentioned in the
article as the basis form my
character’s journal entry.

10. Let’s turn to page 11 to see what your wiritng
prompt is all about.
Who would like to read the writing prompt?
Now, let’s take out a piece of lined paper from our
AVID Binder’s Language Arts section. We are going
to make a two column note sheet. Follow along with
me as I set it up.

11. COLYMN ONE
Analyze the Prompt Question
Text Type?
Source?
Details or Evidence?
How will I use details?
Decisions before writing.
COLUMN TWO
Answer
(students fill in on own)
Guide questions for “Decisions…”
1. Who is the character that I am
pretending to be while writing
the journal?
2. What area of government do I
work for.
3. What was the reflief effort I
helped with.
4. What did I do to hel?

12. Let’s share some answers to each of the questions.
Maybe some of you can help others by suggesting
more details or evidence.

13. Let’s take this time to reread “Solving Problems.”
As we read, think about the narrative you will
write. Remember, we are using “Solving Problems”
as our source for writing.