Understanding writing prompts

MODULE 1:
LESSON 1
Understanding
Writing
Prompts

Today’s Writing Strategy
To learn how to identify the mode, the task, and key
words within a writing prompt.
To understand how to use this information to
understand what the writing prompt is
asking the writer to do.

What is a writing prompt?
Writing prompts are
assignments that ask you
to write about a
particular topic in a
particular way.
Writing prompts are
based on reading
passages.
Write an informational
essay explaining the
relationship between
time and clocks. Your
essay must be based on
ideas, concepts, and
information found in the
article.

Writing is a Two Way Street
WRITER
READER
A writing prompt tells
the writer the purpose for
writing.
A prompt also tells the
writer what the reader
needs to needs to know.

Use the Clues
There are important clues
in every reading prompt:
the mode, the task, and
key words.
Learn to find and
understand each of these
clues. Then use them to
rock your writing!
article.

Clue #1: The Mode of Writing
The mode of writing is the
type of writing. Every mode of
writing has a special purpose,
for example:
writing to inform or explain
or
writing to share an opinion
or
writing to compare
article.

Read this writing prompt
carefully. Is it asking the writer
to
write to inform?
or
write to share an opinion?
or
write to compare?
article.
Identify the word in the writing prompt that
tells which mode of writing to use.

Did you identify the clue?
“Informational” is a key word.
This key word lets the writer
know that the purpose of their
writing response is to inform.
The writer knows that they will
use facts to educate the reader
on a particular topic.
article.

Clue #2: Identify the Task
Every writing prompt includes
a task.
The task tells exactly what you
should write about.
Read the prompt carefully.
Identify the part of the prompt
that tells you exactly what you
should write about.
article.

Clue #2: Identify the Task
Did you identify Clue #2?
The writer’s task is to explain
the relationship between time
and clocks.
article.

Clue #3: Identify Key Words
Key words are important
words that give the writer
more information about what
to write and how to write.
Read the writing prompt one
more time. This time, look
carefully for key words.
article.

Clue #3: Key Words
Let’s identify key words.
Explain is a key word. It tells the
writer that their task is to make
the relationship between time
and clocks clear and
understandable to the reader.
Relationship is also a key word.
The writer’s task is to show how
time and clocks are connected.
article.

Putting It All Together
Write an
informational essay
explaining the
essay must be based
on ideas, concepts,
and information
found in the article.
Clue #1:
Mode/Purpose:
Use facts to inform
the reader
Clue #2:
Tasks
Explain the
time and clocks to the
reader
Clue #3:
Key Words
Explain—write in a
clear and
understandable way
Relationship-show
how time and clocks
are connected.

Read the writing prompts on the
following screens.
Find the clues that tell you what and how to
write.
• Identify and circle the mode.
• Identify and underline the task.
• Identify and box in the key words.
Then put them all together in a statement
that tells exactly what the writer should tell
the reader.

After reading Cars in the Sky and Real Life
Robots, write an essay telling which invention,
flying cars or helper robots, you think would
be most useful for families. Provide reasons
and use details from both passages to help
you explain your opinion.

Clue #1:
Mode/Purpose:
Use details and facts to
support an opinion.
Clue #2:
Tasks
Tell whether flying cars
or helper robots would
be most helpful to
families.
Clue #3:
Key Words
which—choose between
flying cars and helper
robots
you think-state an
opinion clearly.
both passages-facts and
details from two texts
writing a response that uses
facts and details from two
stories to give my opinion
about whether flying cars or
helper robots would be most
useful to families.
I can rock my writing by:

After reading “Drinking Water: Bottled or from
the Tap?” and “Art for Ocean Animals,” write an
essay in which you compare and contrast the
authors’ views on littering and pollution. Include
information from both texts to write about the
subject knowledgeably. Use details from both
passages to help you write your essay.

Clue #1:
Mode/Purpose:
Use details and facts
to compare and
contrast.
Clue #2:
Tasks
Tell how authors’
views on littering and
pollution are alike and
different.
Clue #3:
Key Words
information—use
facts
Both texts-include
facts and details from
both.
writing a response that uses
facts and details from two
stories to tell how two
authors views on littering and
pollution are alike and
different.

After reading the quotation by Theodore Roosevelt and
the excerpt from The School Book of Forestry, write an
essay to persuade your principal that planting trees is
the best project for your school to adopt. Include
information from both texts to write about the subject
knowledgeably. Be certain to support your point of view
with reasons and information from both of the texts
provided.

Clue #1:
Mode/Purpose:
Use details and facts to
persuade the reader
(principal.)
Clue #2:
Tasks
Tell why planting trees
would be the best school
project.
Clue #3:
Key Words
best—persuasive words
Support your point of
view-use information
from the texts.
Both texts-include facts
and details from both.
writing a response to
persuade the reader
(principal) that planting trees
would be the best school
project, and by supporting
my persuasive statements
with facts and details from
both texts.

President Theodore Roosevelt believed forests
should be saved. Write an explanatory essay
that tells how he supported his belief that
students should be taught to protect trees and
forests. Be certain to show how President
Roosevelt used reasons and evidence in his
letter to support his point.

Clue #1:
Mode/Purpose:
Use reasons and
evidence to explain
Clue #2:
Tasks
Tell how President
Roosevelt supported his
belief that students
should be taught to
protect trees and forests.
Clue #3:
Key Words
tells how—provide
examples of the things
that President Roosevelt
did.
Shows how-explain how
Roosevelt used reasons.
writing a response that
explains the things that
President Roosevelt did and
the reasons he used to
support his belief that
students should be taught to
protect trees and forests.

The passages you read were about exploring
the oceans through technology. Write an
informative essay in which you explain how
technology has helped explorers overcome
challenges related to deep-sea exploration.
Use information from the sources in your
essay.

Clue #1:
Mode/Purpose:
To inform the reader.
Clue #2:
Tasks
Explain how technology
has helped explorers
overcome challenges
related to deep-sea
exploration
Clue #3:
Key Words
explain—educate the
reader
overcome challenges-
explain problems and
solutions.
writing a response that
explains how technology has
helped explorers find
solutions to the problems of
deep-sea exploration.

Understanding writing prompts

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