R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Which of the following describes Which of the following describes R.A.F.T.?R.A.F.T.?

A. A device that floats in the waterA. A device that floats in the water

B. An acronym for the parts of B. An acronym for the parts of speechspeech

C. A useful tool that will allow you C. A useful tool that will allow you to get better gradesto get better grades

D. A strategy for writingD. A strategy for writing

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

R.A.F.T. stands for:R.A.F.T. stands for:• RoleRole

• AudienceAudience• FormatFormat• TopicTopic

So how can that help you?So how can that help you?

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

The RAFT strategy forces you to The RAFT strategy forces you to process information, rather than process information, rather than

merely write out answers to merely write out answers to questions.questions.

So…..What exactly is it anyway?So…..What exactly is it anyway?

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

R=roleR=role

The role is who you are writing as.The role is who you are writing as.

Is your role reporter? Observer?Is your role reporter? Observer?

Eyewitness? Object? Etc.?Eyewitness? Object? Etc.?

Want an example?Want an example?

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Look at the following writing prompt. Look at the following writing prompt. What would your role be as the writer?What would your role be as the writer?

Write a letter to the editor of yourWrite a letter to the editor of yourlocal paper voicing your concern overlocal paper voicing your concern overthe lack of after school activities forthe lack of after school activities for

teenagers.teenagers.

Role=Role=

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

If you said teenager, you were right..If you said teenager, you were right..That one was easy, let’s try a harderThat one was easy, let’s try a harder

one.one.

A famous athlete writes anA famous athlete writes anautobiography. What is your role?autobiography. What is your role?

Role=Role=

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Who is doing the writing?Who is doing the writing?

The famous athlete.The famous athlete.

Think you got it? Maybe one more?Think you got it? Maybe one more?

The local theater group puts on a The local theater group puts on a playplay

about a dragon with no wings.about a dragon with no wings.

Role=Role=

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Your role in that example was the….Your role in that example was the….

Local theater groupLocal theater group

Let’s move on to the next part which isLet’s move on to the next part which is

audience. If you’re still unsure aboutaudience. If you’re still unsure about

the role, don’t worry. It will get easierthe role, don’t worry. It will get easier

with practice.with practice.

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

A=audienceA=audience

The audience is whoever will be The audience is whoever will be doingdoing

the reading. Teacher, other students,the reading. Teacher, other students,

parent,, editor, people in theparent,, editor, people in the

community, etc.community, etc.

Want an example?Want an example?

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Your girlfriend’s father lectures herYour girlfriend’s father lectures herafter coming home late about why after coming home late about why

shesheshouldn’t be dating you.shouldn’t be dating you.

Role? Role? Audience? Audience?

You’d be better off staying out of itYou’d be better off staying out of italtogether.altogether.

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

The audience is very important inThe audience is very important in

writing. Let’s try another one.writing. Let’s try another one.

Joseph Stalin writes a letter to Joseph Stalin writes a letter to GeorgeGeorge

Orwell about his reaction to AnimalOrwell about his reaction to Animal

Farm.Farm.

Audience=Audience=

(.wav)

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

F=formatF=format

Format is how the writing is beingFormat is how the writing is being

presented. What FORM is it taking? Apresented. What FORM is it taking? A

letter? Memo? Essay? Article? Report?letter? Memo? Essay? Article? Report?

Poem?Poem?

Let’s look at the previous examples.Let’s look at the previous examples.

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

What is the format in the followingWhat is the format in the following

prompt?prompt?

Joseph Stalin writes a letter to Joseph Stalin writes a letter to GeorgeGeorge

Orwell about his reaction to AnimalOrwell about his reaction to Animal

Farm.Farm.

Format=Format=

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Let’s try one more:Let’s try one more:

Your girlfriend’s father lectures Your girlfriend’s father lectures herher

after coming home late about why after coming home late about why sheshe

shouldn’t be dating you.shouldn’t be dating you.

Format=Format=

R.A.F.T.

How is the message being delivered?How is the message being delivered?

Did you say a lecture? You’re right!Did you say a lecture? You’re right!

The last strategy is T=topicThe last strategy is T=topic

The topic is the who or what The topic is the who or what (subject).(subject).

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Again, let’s look at previous Again, let’s look at previous examples.examples.

Write a letter to the editor of yourWrite a letter to the editor of your

local paper voicing your concern overlocal paper voicing your concern over

the lack of after school activities forthe lack of after school activities for

teenagers.teenagers.

What is the topic?What is the topic?

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

The topic is what is being writtenThe topic is what is being written

about. In the previous example it about. In the previous example it waswas

your concern over the lack of afteryour concern over the lack of after

school activities forschool activities for

teenagers.teenagers.

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Let’s try one more:Let’s try one more:

Your girlfriend’s father lectures Your girlfriend’s father lectures herher

after coming home late about why after coming home late about why sheshe

shouldn’t be dating you.shouldn’t be dating you.

The topic is….The topic is….

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

What was the dad lecturing What was the dad lecturing about?about?

Why she shouldn’t be dating Why she shouldn’t be dating you….you….

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Now we’re going to take a little Now we’re going to take a little test.test.

I’m going to show you a writing I’m going to show you a writing prompt and you need to identify prompt and you need to identify the R.A.F.T. for each one. Ready?the R.A.F.T. for each one. Ready?

Let’s get started……..Let’s get started……..

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

The President of the United States willThe President of the United States will

deliver a speech trying to convince thedeliver a speech trying to convince the

United Kingdom to join forces in theUnited Kingdom to join forces in the

war against terrorism.war against terrorism.

R=R=

A=A=

F=F=

T=T=

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Your grandmother tells a story to theYour grandmother tells a story to the

children at the local community centerchildren at the local community center

about when she was a little girl about when she was a little girl growinggrowing

up during the great depression.up during the great depression.

R=R=

A=A=

F=F=

T=T=

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

The citizens of China give a speech toThe citizens of China give a speech to

the Emperor about allowing everyone the Emperor about allowing everyone toto

have a passport.have a passport.

R=R=

A=A=

F=F=

T=T=

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

Chuck Norris gives a speech to the Chuck Norris gives a speech to the “bad“bad

guys” letting them know what willguys” letting them know what will

happen if they mess with him.happen if they mess with him.

R=R=

A=A=

F=F=

T=T=

R.A.F.T.R.A.F.T.

A caterpillar writes a biographyA caterpillar writes a biography

describing his life to the world.describing his life to the world.

R=R=

A=A=

F=F=

T=T=