On-Demand 11

Writing Situation:
Your class is studying about famous Americans who lived long ago. The people your teacher would like you to focus on have had difficult experiences, yet have overcome them in order to accomplish a greater good for others. They have put themselves and sometimes, their families, in unsafe situations because of a cause that they believed would make the lives of many better. Your teacher has asked the class to write informative newspaper articles to tell other students about characteristics that some of the famous Americans had that made them succeed challenging circumstances. You have read about Harriett Tubman and Abe Lincoln and have decided to use information you’ve gathered about them in your newspaper article.
Writing Directions:
Write an article for the school newspaper telling about characteristics that are extremely important facing difficulties. In your article, include why the characteristics are important.
***This would be a 90-minute write with articles to read.***

• informative
• opinion
• narrative

Writing Situation:
Identify an activity, such as a hobby, pastime or sport, you enjoy or do well.
Writing Directions:
Explain what you do and why you chose the activity. Be sure to support your reasons.

• informative
• opinion
• narrative

Writing Situation:
Many times in life we are faced with challenges that seem impossible to complete. From learning to tie your shoe, tell time, or write a five-paragraph essay, these tasks can seem daunting when we have to tackle them. However, Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
Writing Directions:
Write a feature story for your school newspaper about a time you did something you thought you could not do. Be sure to include specific details describing this event.

• informative
• opinion
• narrative

Writing Situation:
We have all had moments when we learned a lesson the hard way or wish we had done things differently. This is a sign of growing up. The school website is featuring stories about learning life lessons.
Writing Directions:
Write a story about a time when you learned a lesson the hard way and wish you had done things differently. The story can be real or imagined. Be sure to explain the choices made, consequences of that choice, and the lesson learned as a result.

• informative
• opinion
• narrative

Writing Situation:
Due to budgetary constraints, the County School System has made the decision to eliminate all 1:1 iPad classrooms. Costing the county approximately $16,000 per 1:1 classroom, we can immediately save $100,000 at our school alone. Therefore, it is the decision of the Board of Education that at the end of this month we will lose our class set of iPads.
Writing Directions:
Do you think this is the best way to raise funds for our District? Write a letter to our Board of Education stating your opinion about the decision to eliminate 1:1 iPad classrooms in our district.

• informative
• opinion
• narrative

Writing Situation:
It is well known that smoking is harmful. Because of this, politicians in our country are debating the possibility of outlawing the growing of tobacco. Think of how this would affect your community.  
Writing Directions:
You are to write a news article for the local newspaper to support or oppose the practice of growing tobacco in Kentucky.

• informative
• opinion
• narrative