Five Things

You Should Know

3 Basic Writing Purposes

Persuade
Inform
Entertain

Real-world
Writing
Purposes

Inform
The
author wants the reader to know something. It can be how to do
something,
with facts. what was done in the past, or any account that can be proven
Persuade
The
author
wants
thea reader
doorsomething.
can be reasons why a
person
should
vote
certainto
way
do a certainItaction.
Entertain
The
author
wants
the reader
to feel to
some
way.
It can be jokes to make the
reader
laugh
or ominous
description
create
suspense.

Writing for an Intended

Scenario: Imagine that you are in the middle
Audience
of the school cafeteria and suddenly a food
fight breaks out. You turn your head just in
time to be hit with a blob of lumpy mashed
potatoes from a chicken bowl. Without
thinking, you grab your chocolate milk and
throw it in retaliation. Just as it leaves your
hand, you hear the cafeteria monitor yelling,
and the principals voice comes over the
intercom. Suddenly there is silence, and
everyone is ordered back to class. Fifteen
minutes later, you are called out of class and

Writers Notebook

Writing Assignment # 1 When you arrive in the office, the principal hands you a blank sheet
of paper and tells you to write a description of the cafeteria incident and your role in it. Write
your response to this real-life writing prompt, persuading the principal of your
innocence.
Writing Assignment # 2 Imagine that your best friend was absent from school the day of the
food fight, and you are anxious to describe the scene in the cafeteria. Write a description of
the cafeteria incident and your role in it to

entertain your best friend.

Writing Assignment # 3 You have been waiting to talk to the principal, and the dismissal
begins. The principals secretary comes out and tells you to go ahead and board your bus;
the principal will speak with you first thing in the morning. You run to your bus, worrying
about what will happen tomorrow. You decide that you better tell your parents something
tonight. Write a description of the cafeteria incident and your role in it as you will inform
your parents.

Considering your Audience with Joshua Bell and

Aristotle

Things You Should Know

Directions: Write an article explaining 5 Things about a topic you are
an expert on.
Write an engaging introduction identifying the topic you are writing
about. The introduction should be several sentences long.

Intro Sample #1
7 Things to Know Before Your First College Class
You just wrapped up high school, summer has flown by and
college is starting. So... how do you prepare for the first day
of classes?
The most important thing to consider is that college classes
will be a different experience when compared to your high
school classes.
Here are some of the key things you should know before
taking your first college course:

Questions on Examples
What does the author do in the opening? In other words,
what purpose does the opening serve? Does it help
establish the authors credibility? Does it provide
necessary background information? Who is the target
audience?
How is each thing you should know supported? Personal
expertise? Experience? Prior knowledge? Research/
statistics?
How does this piece enhance your understanding of the
topic?

5 Things You Should Know

Write 5 paragraphs highlighting what you feel are the 5 most important
things to know about the topic you have chosen.
o

Each thing you should know statement should be in bold font and the paragraph that
follows will provide information supporting that statement.

Each paragraph should be a minimum of 5-7 sentences.

You should include at least one graphic to enhance the content of your paragraphs.