The document provides instructions for students to write a letter from the perspective of either a Civil War soldier or family member at home during the Civil War. Students are prompted to discuss their role, audience, format, topic, and a strong verb as they pretend to write an authentic letter describing current events, hopes, and feelings to their loved one.

1. R.A.F.T.S. Writing: Letters in the Civil War
You are learning about the Civil War, and have read several letters from Civil War soldiers to their
families at home. Why do you think letters were so important during the Civil War? If you lived during
the Civil War what might you write about in a letter to your family?
Pretend you are either a Civil War solider or a family member back home. If you are a solider, write a
letter to your family back home. If you are a family member at home, write a letter to a soldier fighting
in the Civil War. Remember to describe what is happening, describe what you want to happen, and
describe how you feel about the person to which you are writing.
What’s your ROLE: _____________________________________________________________________
What’s your AUDIENCE: _________________________________________________________________
What’s your FORMAT: __________________________________________________________________
What’s your TOPIC: _____________________________________________________________________
What’s your STRONG verb: _______________________________________________________________
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