Thirty Days to Unlock FCAT Writing Success - Polk County School ...

Week Six, Day Two and Three:
Fun Things to do With FCAT Writing Prompts
Pick one prompt from a list provided. Everyone writes the BEST first line to this prompt.
Pick one from a list provided. Everyone writes the BEST last line to this prompt.
Working in groups, students create prompts that are similar to FCAT prompts. Be sure they model the
criteria of the prompt. It must be general enough so that it does not provide bias. Must be worded in
the same format. Must have an expository and a persuasive prompt.
Each student has two sheets of paper and one prompt (student generated or otherwise). Get into
groups of 5 or 6 and number each paper. Students should remember the number they started on. They
must be in a circle and go in order. Each student adds one line to the essay until they have gone all the
way around. The purpose is to continue to support, keeping in mind that they want to complete the
essays by the end of class. Add detail. Add support. Consider transitions. Stay with the voice so that it
sounds like the same person wrote it. If doing the extension activity, make sure they write doublespaced.
Extension- Next day, pass papers to other group and have them revise one or two of the pieces directly
onto the paper. Note areas of support. Use the traits in order o address issues: 5 minutes look at Word
Choice, 5 minutes look at Sentence Fluency, 5 minutes look at Ideas , etc
Another Extension- Give back to the original group and they can edit/type and turn in. Also, have them
write a brief reflection about the original piece compared with the last, edited and revised piece.
Post the prompts on large sheets of paper around the room. Have the students walk around and write
on sticky notes the MOST unique angle they could take with each essay. They will be reading others’
ideas as they stop to read and write their own.
Choose a prompt and put on the board. Give students five minutes to write a list of possible angles to
take with the essay. Share with class to see who had the best and most unique.
Explain topic
Writing (Teacher must write)
Share writing (Teacher must share)
Self Evaluation Rubric
Reflection Exit Slip
90