Strategy 8: Writing Assignment (RAFT)

                                                                                Level of Expertise: 6

Name: _________________________                   Social Studies 8         

RAFT Assignment

Directions:

Read the scenario and task below. Consider the four RAFT choices outlined in the box below. Then, select a role that interests you.

Scenario:

            The year is 1917. The United States is now involved in the Great War. As you know, the opinions and feelings toward this war vary – some individuals support U.S. involvement in the war and others are against U.S. involvement.

Your task:

            Pretend you are one of the soldiers or civilians described below. Craft a response that describes the feelings and attitudes of this person on the given topic. Be sure to incorporate class content that supports your response.

RAFT Choices:

Choice	Role	Audience	Format	Topic
1	18 year old U.S. soldier in Germany who has been on the battlefield for 6 months	-Fellow servicemen in France -American public (servicemen on the home front)	Letter to the Editor found in the Stars and Strips Newspaper published by and for American soldiers in France	-Feelings about the war (+ or -) -Experience on the Western Front
2	U.S. soldier who just finished basic training at Fort Dix and is waiting to be sent overseas to fight	-American public (primarily people who reside in New Jersey)	Letter to the Editor found in local newspaper from Trenton, New Jersey	-Feelings about the war (+) -Reasons for wanting to fight
3	Civilian working in a factory that produces war supplies for the U.S. and its allies	-American public	Letter to the Editor found in the New York Times	-Feelings about the war (+) -Support reasons for fighting the war
4	Civilian who had one family member killed in the war and another still fighting	-American public	Letter to the Editor found in the New York Tribune	-Feelings about the war (-) -Contest reasons for fighting the war

***The letter you compose can be neatly handwritten OR typed. If handwritten, it must be neat and legible. If typed, it must be 12 point font and double spaced. It must be at least one page, but not more than two pages in length.


Remember:

When crafting your RAFT, always be mindful of your audience AND the purpose of your writing. Be sure to include appropriate class content (i.e.: people, places, events, and VOCABULARY). Be creative!

Key Terms:

            When including important concepts and themes from class, be mindful of the date of the letter (i.e.: only include relevant details; avoid talking about the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914 unless it connects to and supports your response). Consider the following terms when crafting your response:

-Nationalism                    -front                             -rationing        

-Militarism                       -armistice                       -War Industries Board

-Propaganda                    -dissent                         -socialist

-Total war                        -pacifist                         -victory garden

-Stalemate                       -Liberty Bonds

*Please note: these are just some of the key terms you may choose to include in your response*

Consider the 6+1 Writing Traits we have discussed at length because the rubric your response will be graded against is based on these traits:

þ     Ideas and content

þ     Organization

þ     Voice

þ     Word Choice

þ     Sentence Fluency

þ     Conventions

Name: ___________________________________

World War I RAFT Assignment Rubric

	4 - 3	2 - 1	Total Points Earned
Ideas	Main idea is clear and well-supported with appropriate details. Details are interesting and informative.  Evidence of course content and themes.	Main idea is somewhat apparent, but could be supported using additional details. Details are somewhat interesting and informative. Some evidence of course content and themes.
Organization	Very organized and coherent. Ideas are presented in a clear and sequential manner. Structure helps the reader identify the main idea and purpose of the text.	Somewhat organized and coherent. Some ideas are presented in a clear and sequential manner. Structure helps the reader identify the main idea and purpose of the text somewhat.
Voice	Use of creative and engaging voice. Author is aware and respectful of audience. Tone and mood effectively portray the author’s understanding and interest in the topic.	Some use of creative and engaging voice. Author is somewhat aware and respectful of audience. Tone and mood somewhat portray author’s understanding and interest in the topic.
Word Choice	Appropriate use of pertinent vocabulary. Words are powerful and help convey meaning. Word choice keeps the reader engaged and interested in the text.	Some use of pertinent vocabulary. Words are somewhat powerful and convey some meaning. Word choice keeps the reader somewhat engaged and interested in the text.
Sentence Fluency	Sentences have flow and rhythm. Sentence length varies. Sentences are creative and help convey meaning.	Sentences have some flow and rhythm. Sentence length is somewhat varied. Sentences are somewhat creative and convey some meaning.
Conventions	Exceptional use of grammar, spelling, and punctuation that aid clarity and style. Very few grammatical errors.	Inconsistent use of grammar, spelling, and punctuation that sometimes aids clarity and style. Several grammatical errors.
Presentation	Piece is polished and professional. Easy readability and clearly facilitates understanding.	Piece is somewhat polished and professional. Somewhat easy readability and facilitates some understanding.

                                                                                                                                  
Total:       / 35

Sample Letter:

                                                                                                                        December 1917

Dear Editor,

            I write this letter to inform the American public that our cause is just. As President Wilson says, we must remain strong and hopeful. Our country is directly threatened by Germany’s decision to implement unrestricted submarine warfare and its attempt to turn Mexico against the United States by sending the Zimmerman telegram. We had no other choice but to act and aid the cause of the Allied Powers.

We must have confidence that our countrymen oversees will continue to fight for those ideals we, as Americans, cherish. It is with most certainty that I assure you we are on the road to victory. Having just completed basic training at Fort Dix, I have been witness to the heart, strength, and determination exuded by the boys ready to ship off to the front lines. The weapons and ideals had by those countries, better known as the Central Powers, are no match for our cause. While total war wreaks havoc on their lands and people, ours are rationing supplies, growing victory gardens, and buying Liberty bonds. Our strength and conviction will surely prevail.

            We know full well what awaits us on the Western front. Our brothers, led by General John J. Pershing, tell us of the stalemate that ensues. The trenches are filthy and disease-ridden, yet the American spirit prevails. Since landing in France in June, our boys remain strong and are poised to defeat our enemies whose nationalist and militarist ways threaten the freedom and peace we enjoy.

            We must have faith in the American spirit. Others must join and support this cause. Once this war is won, we will ensure peace and democracy in our sphere.

                                                                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                                                                        Prepared Soldier

*Please note: Document format was altered when posted to the blog. Hard copies will be submitted in addition to this post.