(Pink) – “The Little House that Could” (Yellow) – “I am Writing Blindly”

1. Choose your seat based on the article you would like to read (once a group is full, you’ll have to pick something else…) **DON’T READ YET!!! (Pink) – “The Little House that Could” (Yellow) – “I am Writing Blindly” (Green) – “Death of a Neighbor Leaves Empty Front Porch” (Purple) – “I Learned from My Dad…How to Slug it Out” (Red) – “Keeping a Pinball Wizard’s Dream Alive”

2. When was the last time you felt compelled to write something?(letter, note, story, poem, Facebook update/comment, email, IM, text message…ANYTHING)

3. The Rule of SO WHAT?! Good writing in every genre answers the question SO WHAT? Good writing has a purpose, a point, and a reason it was written. The good writer looks for and finds the meanings, the significances, the implications in the subject he/she has chosen. Sometimes the SO WHAT? is subtle and implicit. Sometimes it’s explicitly stated. But always a good reader finds something to think about because a good writer found something to think about.

4. The Rule of SO WHAT?! • What does this MEAN? • What are some other ways to word this question? ACTIVITY: Read the article. While you are reading, specifically think SO WHAT?? What is the author’s point/purpose? Why does the author think this topic matters? Fill in the one page summary sheet: Sketch a picture the author paints for you Important quote SO WHAT? What is the author’s message, meaning, or point? Why does this topic matter to you/others? What writing ideas does this give you?

5. Have You MetFAT P? P

6. Yo, my name is FAT P; I’m in the house today Rocking the mic in the written way. Ya’ll are fly writers, that ain’t no lie, But don’t forget me, Representing How, Who, What And Why. WORD P

7. Format What are you being asked to write? Essay, letter, proposal, instructions • Audience For whom are you writing? Friend, classmates, teacher, employer • Topic What are you writing about? • Purpose Why are you writing?

8. WAIT! The reader should know the writer’s purpose WITHOUT seeing the prompt! How can you be sure this happens?

9. What is the FATP? • Writing Prompt: All people are expected to obey laws at home, school, and in the community. Think of a specific law you are expected to follow. Write a letter to your Congressman/woman explaining how the law affects you and whether you think it is fair or unfair. Use reasons and examples to support your choice. ***What would your THESIS STATEMENT be? ***What details would you use to support it?

10. NOW What’s the FATP? • Writing Prompt: All people are expected to obey laws at home, school, and in the community. Think of a specific law you are expected to follow that you disagree with. Write a letter to your Congressman/woman convincing him/her that the law should be changed. Use reasons and examples to support your choice. ***What would your THESIS STATEMENT be? ***What details would you use to support it?

11. ACTIVITY – Carousel Brainstorming • Each table has a different writing prompt. • Read it – determine the FATP – decide what the SO WHAT is - write a thesis statement • ROTATE! • Read what the previous group wrote – change anything that’s wrong. WRITE A DIFFERENT THESIS STATEMENT. • ROTATE! • Choose a thesis statement and plan the details that would support/prove it.

12. HOMEWORK • Find an EXPOSITORY or PERSUASIVE article and complete the one page summary handout about it. (**BE SURE TO BRING THE ARTICLE TO CLASS!)