Name_______________________________________
RAFT Assignment
What is a RAFT?
RAFT stands for Role, Audience, Format, and Topic.
· Role: The role of the writer. Who are you?
· Audience: Who will be reading this writing piece? Students? The community?
· Format: How are you presenting this writing: in a letter, a poem, a report, or a script?
· Topic: What is the subject of this writing? Is it about a person? A place? An event?
For this writing assignment, I will ask you to take on a specific role as you write. I will also ask you to write for a specific audience, and in a particular format. You will be able to choose the topic of this writing piece based on the options that I provide for you (you can also suggest a possible topic that you would like to write about).
Your Assignment:
Imagine that you have been selected by your school to be a teen activist. As a teen activist, it is your job to inform other teens and their parents about issues that affect young people today. One of your first assignments is to create the script for a Public Service Announcement that will be shown to a group of 15-18 year old students at your school. The school guidance counselor has asked that you choose a topic such as texting and driving, Facebook and privacy, or the drinking age and create a script that argues for a particular position on this issue. For example, you could create a Public Service Announcement that argues against teens’ texting while driving.
Role: | Teen Activist (to educate and persuade others) |
Audience: | Teenagers at your school |
Format: | A script for a Public Service Announcement |
Topic: | Issues important to today’s teens Examples: Texting and driving, Facebook and privacy, Driving age, Drinking age |
· Rather than simply writing a paper, I want this assignment to be unique and meaningful for you. Feel free to completely take on your role (become a teen activist). Also, remember who your audience will be. What will most appeal to your audience? What do you want your audience to know and to be thinking about at the end of your piece? Remember, this is a persuasive writing assignment, so your goal is to make your audience think a particular way.
Requirements:
· Your script should be written in script format (see Miss Nolan’s example).
· Your script should be 2-5 pages long in order to reflect a 30 second (minimum) to 3 minute (maximum) PSA.
· Remember: this is still a writing assignment. Along with the final copy of your script, you should also submit ALL of the work in your writing process. This includes any brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing that you have done as you worked on your script.
· Be sure to sufficiently support your argument with facts, examples, and other details (think back to our proposition/support outlines).
· Be sure to reference any sources that you used for specific facts to support your argument at the end of your script.
· Also, make sure that you mention the opposite side of your argument and/or provide counterpoints (see Miss Nolan’s example and think back to our class discussions).
· Your script should be organized, clearly written, and should include details about any images or sound used in your PSA (if applicable).
Rubric
Category | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Ideas | Message is clear, persuasive, and compelling At least 3 supporting details are included to defend author’s argument Accurate citations are used to reference outside information | Message is clear and convincing Two supporting details are included to defend author’s argument Citations are used to reference outside information | Message is somewhat clear, but not persuasive One supporting detail is included to defend author’s argument Some citations are used to reference outside information | Message is confusing and not persuasive No supporting details are included to defend author’s argument No citations are used to reference outside information |
Organization | Script has a clear beginning, middle, and end Supporting arguments are arranged in a clear and cohesive manner | Script has a beginning, middle, and end Supporting arguments are arranged, but a more cohesive arrangement could be achieved | Beginning, middle, and end are somewhat clear Supporting arguments are not arranged effectively | Beginning, middle, and end are unclear or non-existent Supporting arguments are not arranged in a cohesive manner and/or are non-existent |
Voice | Author’s voice is clear Author is clearly committed to point of view on the chosen topic | Author’s voice is clear, but wavers at times Author’s commitment to point of view on the chosen topic is not consistently clear | Author’s voice is present occasionally Author’s commitment to point of view on the chosen topic is unclear | Author’s voice is not evident Author’s commitment to point of view on the chosen topic is not evident |
Word Choice | Word choice is powerful, specific, and accurate Word choice demonstrates a clear and consistent awareness of the intended audience | Word choice is acceptable, with effective language Word choice demonstrates an awareness of the intended audience | Word choice is not effective and shows little thought Word choice demonstrates a basic understanding of the intended audience, but wavers at times | Word choice is dull and inappropriate Word choice is not appropriate for the intended audience |
Sentence Fluency | All sentences have a clear flow and rhythm A variety of sentence types are used correctly throughout the script | Most sentences have a clear flow and rhythm A variety of sentence types are used throughout the script, with most sentences structured correctly | Some sentences have a clear flow and rhythm Some sentence variety is used throughout the script, with many sentences structured incorrectly | Sentences do not have a clear flow and rhythm Little to no sentence variety is used and sentences are not structured correctly |
Conventions | Minor or no mechanical errors | Few mechanical errors (2-5) that do not interfere with author’s message | Numerous mechanical errors (6-10), but most do not severely interfere with author’s message | Many mechanical errors (11+) that detract and interfere with author’s message |
Presentation | RAFT is written in script format with no formatting errors All images and props used in the advertisement are mentioned | RAFT is written in script format with a few formatting errors A sufficient amount of images and props used in the advertisement are mentioned | RAFT is written in script format with many formatting errors Some images and props used in the advertisement are briefly mentioned | RAFT is not written in script format Images and props used in the advertisement are not mentioned |
Sample Script
Script for Commercial Against Texting While Driving
FADE IN:
Image of a car accident.
The words “How did this happen?” and “She was so young!” fading in and out over the photo.
The phrase “Excuse #1” appears as the first voice begins speaking.
Teen #1
It’s so easy to do. I’ve practiced so much. It’s really no big deal. I can send a text message while I drive and not lose control of the car. It’s just like changing a radio station or turning up the A/C. It’s not a problem.
The word “Truth” appears as the next voice begins speaking.
Narrator
Your hands and eyes are off the road when you text. The driver is distracted and could make a mistake.
The phrase “Excuse #2” appears as the next voice begins speaking.
Teen #2
I only take my eyes off the road and my hands off the wheel for a second. I will be able to control my car, and I won’t make a mistake. I am a fast texter, and I’m only sending a short message anyway.
The word “Truth” appears as the next voice begins speaking.
Narrator
It only takes a second for an accident to happen. One second is a long time.
At this time, a slideshow of images appears on the screen. These images represent events that only occur in one second of time. For example, an image of a street light changing from yellow to red, a pedestrian stepping into the street, a ball bouncing into the road, a car running a stop sign, and a car veering across a double-yellow line.
The phrase “Excuse #3” appears as the next voice begins speaking.
Teen #3
Accidents don’t happen as often as my parents say they do.
The word “Truth” appears as the next voice begins speaking.
Narrator
In the year 2007 alone, cell phone use and text messaging caused almost 1,000 car accidents involving 16- and 17-year old drivers.
The phrase “Excuse #4” appears as the next voice begins speaking.
Teen #4
People don’t usually die from being in car accidents. I know plenty of people who have been in car accidents and they are fine. They walked away with barely a scratch.
The word “Truth” appears as the next voice begins speaking.
Narrator
Car accidents are the leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 19 years old.
The phrase “Excuse #5” appears as the next voice begins speaking.
Teen #5
But it’s important! I have to send this text message to my friend. I have to send another message to my parents to tell them where I am, or I’ll be grounded. This is serious!
The word “Truth” appears as the next voice begins speaking.
Narrator
Is it important enough to cost you your life? You can always pull over to use your phone.
The words “It all started with this…” fade in on the screen, followed by an image of a cell phone.
The cell phone image fades out as the words “There are always a million excuses…but why take the risk?” fade in over a black screen.
FADE OUT
Statistics taken from http://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cell-phone/statistics.html and http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html.
