RAFT Papers
RAFT is a strategy that is used to help learners understand someone else's perspectives while writing a piece (Simon, n.d.). RAFT is a mnemonic device to help the writer remember all the different parts they need to include in their writing. Those include:
Below is a picture of a RAFT used in a Science class (RAFT, n.d.).
Benefits of the RAFT Strategy (Simon, n.d.):
The RAFT in use:
1. I assigned the RAFT after doing a role-playing activity where students are assigned a caste based on the Caste System from Ancient India. Students are assigned the RAFT as homework to reflect on their experiences. Their role will be determined by what caste they were in during the role-playing exercise.
2. Hand-out each student a sheet with the requirements for the writing. You may have a specific format you would like it in. I had my students write a letter. Along with the RAFT requirements, I had specific questions they had to answer in their writing: what caste were you in? Are you happy with the caste you are in? Why or Why not? What are the positives/negatives of being in your caste.
3. The following day, have students share in small groups with each other. Have students nominate exemplary letters to share with the entire class. Have students identify from the reading the Role, Audience, Format and Topic.
Adaptations
Other ideas for using the RAFT strategy
Writing using the RAFT
The RAFT is a great way to incorporate writing into the curriculum, and meets the following Common Core standard:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
- R - Role of the Writer: Who are you as the writer? A WWII Soldier? A farmer during the Dust Bowl?
- A - Audience you are writing to: Who are you writing to? A company? The government? A friend?
- F - Format: What format is the most appropriate to write in? A letter? A diary? A news editorial?
- T - Topic: What are you writing about? Pearl Harbor? JFK Assassination? The Great Depression?
Below is a picture of a RAFT used in a Science class (RAFT, n.d.).
Benefits of the RAFT Strategy (Simon, n.d.):
- Students adapt their writing to meet the needs of the audience and format
- It encourages creative thinking
- Allows students to feel empathy and see things through others' perspectives
- Students develop a great understanding of the content they are writing about
The RAFT in use:
1. I assigned the RAFT after doing a role-playing activity where students are assigned a caste based on the Caste System from Ancient India. Students are assigned the RAFT as homework to reflect on their experiences. Their role will be determined by what caste they were in during the role-playing exercise.
2. Hand-out each student a sheet with the requirements for the writing. You may have a specific format you would like it in. I had my students write a letter. Along with the RAFT requirements, I had specific questions they had to answer in their writing: what caste were you in? Are you happy with the caste you are in? Why or Why not? What are the positives/negatives of being in your caste.
3. The following day, have students share in small groups with each other. Have students nominate exemplary letters to share with the entire class. Have students identify from the reading the Role, Audience, Format and Topic.
Adaptations
Other ideas for using the RAFT strategy
- Students create a letter to describe the architecture in Ancient Greece or Rome
- Students make a proposal to a Senator to fix a current social problem
- Students write a diary entry about an event after reading primary and secondary source documents
Writing using the RAFT
The RAFT is a great way to incorporate writing into the curriculum, and meets the following Common Core standard:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
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RAFT Writing Strategy (JHAT, Jr.) |
RAFT in Science |
In this video, the instructor explains the purpose of a RAFT to engage writers. Then she gives an example of students writing a letter to the founding fathers about their ideas on self-government. She adds an 'S' to the the RAFT strategy to encourage writers to use 'strong verbs.' This is something that is important in a Language Arts class.
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In this RAFT exercise, the teacher uses the RAFT as an assessment tool after a Science unit. The first exercise involved writing a letter to the head of the cafeteria to ban tuna from the lunches. This activity involved reading a piece that had negatives of eating tuna, in which students were to practice citing it in their RAFT. The second was a letter to the head of a toy company that used lead in their toys. Another form was writing a children's book over the periodic table of elements. She goes on to discuss the great quality of work that this strategy helped students to create.
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References
ManningEng. (2013, March 5). RAFT in Science. YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-HESLtyGFo
JSDProfDev. (2013, February 6). RAFT Writing Strategy (JHAT, Jr.). YouTube. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLJ_32y6lR0
RAFT. (n.d.). Reading Rockets. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/raft
Simon, C. A. (n.d.). Using the RAFT Writing Strategy - ReadWriteThink. readwritethink.org. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/using-raft-writing-strategy-30625.html
ManningEng. (2013, March 5). RAFT in Science. YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-HESLtyGFo
JSDProfDev. (2013, February 6). RAFT Writing Strategy (JHAT, Jr.). YouTube. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLJ_32y6lR0
RAFT. (n.d.). Reading Rockets. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/raft
Simon, C. A. (n.d.). Using the RAFT Writing Strategy - ReadWriteThink. readwritethink.org. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/using-raft-writing-strategy-30625.html