This document provides guidance on writing on demand assessments. It explains that these assessments involve responding to a writing prompt within a limited time frame to demonstrate writing skills. It offers tips for identifying the role, audience, format, and topic (RAFT) of the prompt to ensure an effective response. Examples of writing prompts are also provided to illustrate how to determine RAFT. The document emphasizes careful analysis of prompts and time management to do well on writing on demand tasks.

2. What is writing on demand?
0 Responding to a writing prompt that is given to you
0 Writing in a limited time
0 Writing on demand assessments give you an
opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills!

3. Tips for Success
0 Careful analysis of the writing prompt is important to
ensure your writing is on-task.
0 Think about RAFT to make sure you have everything
covered.

4. R is for Role
0 Think about who you are in this piece of writing.
0 Are you…
0A son/daughter?
0A concerned citizen?
0An expert at ___________?
0 Make sure you are using vocabulary and techniques
that are consistent with your role.

5. A is for Audience
0 The audience is who you are addressing in this piece of
writing.
0 No—the audience isn’t always “your teacher”—just
because your teacher will be reading your piece of writing.
0 Your audience could be…
0 Your classmates
0 The mayor
0 Your parents
0 Small children

6. F is for Format
0 The format is the type of writing required.
0 Sometimes the format is specifically given and
sometimes it is left open.
0 Examples of format…
0Letter
0Essay
0Story

7. T is for Topic
0 The topic is the content—what are you writing about?
What are you trying to accomplish?
0 Think about the purpose of your writing.
0 The purpose will be one or more of the following…
0To persuade
0To share your opinion
0To explain
0To narrate (tell a story)
0To describe

8. Example Writing Prompt
0 Writing situation: Your school publishes a monthly
newsletter. For the February issue, your school would
like to focus on the meaning of friendship.
0 Writing Directions: Write an article for the
newsletter about the meaning of friendship. Be sure
to include some of your personal experiences or
examples from what you have read/seen.

9. Key Words
0 Writing situation: Your school publishes a monthly
newsletter. For the February issue, your school would
like to focus on the meaning of friendship.
0 Writing Directions: Write an article for the
newsletter about the meaning of friendship. Be
sure to include some of your personal experiences
or examples from what you have read/seen.
Have you identified RAFT?

10. Identifying RAFT
0 Role---In this prompt, you are writing as yourself
because the prompt asks you to share YOUR personal
experiences.
0 Audience—The audience would be classmates,
parents and teachers since it’s a school newsletter.
0 Format—The format was given when it asked you to
write an article.
0 Topic—The topic is the meaning of friendship. Your
purpose is to share your opinion on this topic.

11. Your Turn!
0 Take a look at the writing prompts on the next slides.
0 Practice identifying RAFT on your own.
0 Compare it to the answers provided to check for
understanding.

12. Writing Prompt 1
0 Writing Situation: Most people can remember a time
when someone did something special for them.
Perhaps you were given an opportunity or received
something that you really appreciated.
0 Writing Directions: Write a letter to someone you
appreciate. Tell this person about this time when
he/she did something special for you or with you. Be
sure to express your gratitude.
Can you identify
RAFT?

13. How did you do?
Role—You are writing as yourself.
Audience—The audience is the person who did
something special for you.
Format—The format is a letter.
Topic—Your purpose is to describe the time that you
remember and explain how much you appreciate it.

14. Writing Prompt 2
0 Writing Situation: Because of the risk of accidents, the
province has put into effect a distracted driving law.
Drivers must not text, talk on the phone or be otherwise
distracted when they are driving. However, the police still
ticket many people every month for this offence as some
people do not think it’s a big deal.
0 Writing Directions: Write a letter to the editor of the
newspaper giving your opinion about the distracted
driving law. Explain why you think it is a good law or an
unfair law.
Can you identify
RAFT?

15. How did you do?
Role—You are writing as yourself, a concerned citizen with a
strong opinion on this issue.
Audience—The audience is the editor of the paper and
possibly anyone who reads the newspaper if they choose to
publish your opinion.
Format—The format is an editorial (like an opinion essay)
Topic—Your purpose is to provide your opinion about the
distracted driving law. You might even attempt to persuade
others to agree with you.

16. Writing Prompt 3
0 Writing Situation: Many things can interfere with
our plans. Sometimes an illness prevents us from
doing something we really want to do.
0 Writing Directions: Describe a time when you
became ill and missed out on doing something you’d
really been looking forward to.

17. How did you do?
Role—You are writing as yourself.
Audience—The audience is not stated so write for a
general audience.
Format—The format will be a story or an narrative
essay.
Topic—Your purpose is to describe and narrate what
happened.

18. Final Tips
0 It is helpful to highlight/underline key words in the writing
prompt to ensure you are addressing the task completely.
0 Keep an eye on the time. You have 45 minutes for the
writing so make sure you plan out the information you
need to include.
0 Don’t panic—since it’s an “on demand” writing task, you
are only expected to produce a first draft—no one expects
it to be perfect yet!