R.A.F.T. is a writing technique that provides an easy, meaningful way to demonstrate your understanding of reading material. It focuses on writing in context to the material you have read.
Your assignment: Put yourself in the position of one of Kino’s neighbors and comment on the events you have witnessed and heard about now that Kino has returned to the village.
Required length: 2 pages, double-spaced. This means you are skipping a line as you write.NOTE: The classroom handout has the columns underneath the headings blank. However, the information in the columns is the same information and ideas I have asked you to think about in class. For example, in the "Role" column, your paper does not have to answer all the questions I pose. However, they are the type of questions that will help you think about the paper you will write.
| Role Who are you? |
Audience To whom is it written? What do they expect? |
Format What form will this writing piece take? What will it look like? |
Topic What is your topic? |
|---|---|---|---|
| In this column, fill in details about the person you are pretending to be for this assignment, i.e., one of Kino's neighbors. Decide whether you are male or female. Are you friends with Kino's family or not? What is your opinion about the events that you saw develop when Kino found the Pearl of the World? What would you have done with this valuable pearl? Do you think the outcome at the end of the story was deserved? Make sure you support your opinions with details. Don't just say Kino deserved to lose the pearl or that he deserved the pearl itself. Explain why! | Who are you writing to? This information will be closely tied to the format we decide on in class. Most likely, the format of this paper will take the form of a letter to a friend or relative. If so, who are you writing to (your audience)? Why are you writing to this person? Why would they be interested in the story? **Remember that I am also your audience! I expect a well-written paper. Neatness counts! Do your best to present a paper with good spelling and good grammar. Write in complete sentences. Write in paragraphs. |
The format, as mentioned, will be a letter to a friend. This means a proper greeting, such as Dear John. Make sure you put a date at the top and your signature at the bottom. Again, make sure it is a well written paper--see my expectations in the Audience column. | Your topic is explained at the top of this page, see "Your Assignment." You are writing as one of Kino's neighbors. You are also commenting or voicing your opinions about what has happened to Kino. In a way, this is really a chance for you to reflect on the novel--what did you think about it as a story? What did you think about the characters? What, if any, lesson did you learn? Make sure you explain yourself with details to back up your opinions. The required length for this letter is two pages, double-spaced (skip a line as you write). |