What is a RAFT essay?

RAFT stands for Role, Audience, Format, and Topic. It's a strategy used in writing to help students approach writing assignments in a more engaging and creative way. It encourages them to think deeply about their purpose and audience, which can lead to more sophisticated and interesting writing.

Here's how each element of RAFT works:

* Role: Who are you pretending to be? This could be a historical figure, a fictional character, an animal, an object, or even a concept.

* Audience: Who are you writing to? This could be a specific person, a group of people, or a general audience.

* Format: What form will your writing take? This could be a letter, a diary entry, a speech, a poem, a news report, a song, a script, etc.

* Topic: What is the subject of your writing? This is the main idea or theme you'll be exploring.

Example:

Let's say the topic is "The American Revolution."

* Role: You could be a British soldier writing home to his family.

* Audience: Your family in England.

* Format: A letter.

* Topic: Your experiences as a soldier in the American Revolution.

Benefits of RAFT:

* Engages students: By allowing students to take on different roles and perspectives, RAFT can make writing more fun and engaging.

* Improves creativity: RAFT encourages students to think outside the box and come up with creative ways to express themselves.

* Develops critical thinking: Students must consider their role, audience, and purpose in order to write effectively.

* Enhances understanding: By exploring different perspectives and formats, students can deepen their understanding of the topic.

RAFT in Action:

RAFT can be used for a wide variety of writing assignments, including:

* History: Students can write from the perspective of a historical figure, describing a significant event.

* Science: Students can write a report from the perspective of a scientist explaining a complex concept.

* Literature: Students can write a letter from a character in a book to another character, exploring their thoughts and feelings.

* Current Events: Students can write a news report from the perspective of a journalist covering a major event.

RAFT is a powerful tool that can help students become more confident and creative writers. By using RAFT, you can encourage your students to think critically, engage with the material, and express themselves in a meaningful way.