The basics of writing prompts
Good prompts do a whole lot more

Writing assignments that require a constructed written response are called prompts. They have nothing to do with timely performance, as I'm sure you are aware from excuses you've heard for late assignments.

Rather, they give opportunities, reminders, or suggestions for writing, as in "You might want to write this essay if you don't want to stay home from the basketball game Friday night."

Such assignments are a normal part of life in both the workplace and in academic settings.

In work situations, the assignment-giver is interested only in the final product.

In school, however, the writing process is as important as the product it delivers. Below is an overview of the subject of student writing prompts. The information is equally applicable to middle school, high school, and college writing assignments.

Characteristics of good prompts

• Good prompts are authentic; that is, they are on topics within the student's course curriculum.

• Good prompts contain a writing topic, put it in context, and provide clear directions to help students respond.

• Good writing assignments accomplish more than one course objective.

• All the writing assignments a savvy teacher uses in an academic year for graded writing can be answered using a single writing genre and pattern.

Authentic writing prompts

• Authentic classroom prompts mimic real-world writing prompts.

• Authentic prompts help struggling writers who have nothing to say if they lack information.

• Teachers should give students at least one formal prompt on each main English area each year.

• Students who do assignments requiring authentic intellectual work show greater gains on standardized tests that those who write on topics outside the curriculum.

Formal prompts

• Formal prompts require thoughtful, considered responses written with attention to writing mechanics.

• They encourage higher level thinking.

• They can create learning situations involving hands-on research, collaboration, interviews, or library research.

• Teachers typically prepare prompts that require persuasive-pattern, five-paragraph essays.

• Teachers can give beginning writers a thesis or choice of two theses to help them get quickly into the writing process.

• Formal prompts, such as essays and essay tests, are often used for summative assessments.

• Teachers must test all formal writing assignments by actually doing the activities the prompt calls for.

• Grading rubrics help teachers avoid overwork by focusing their attention on the most important aspects of written assignments.

Informal prompts

• Informal prompts seek quick responses.

• Students are less passive when required to write.

• Informal writing sessions aid in classroom management.

• Informal writing offers formative assessment opportunities.

• Teachers must respond to informal writing without grading or editing it.

• Informal prompts can serve many different purposes.

• Teachers must test informal prompts before giving them.

• The timed aspect of informal writing prepares students for more formal, higher stakes writing situations.