Strategy 8, RAFT

Level of familiarity: 4

Name: ____________________________ RAFT Assignment Sheet

The Great Depression Unit

Through our class readings and discussions, you have learned that there were many differing opinions and perspectives during the Great Depression.  To solidify your understandings of the specific perspectives you will compose a written piece in the format listed below.

Role	Audience	Format	Topic
Franklin Delano Roosevelt	U.S. Supreme Court	Appeal Speech	defending the New Deal
Unemployed citizen	Franklin Delano Roosevelt	Complaint	trouble finding work and food to survive
Farmer	Franklin Delano Roosevelt	Thank-you note	relief from loans from the Farm Credit Act (FCA)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt	the American People	Fire-side chat speech	explaining the proposed solution to restoring the country economically

Your Task: 

1. Select ONE R.A.F.T. row to complete.

1. Find information about your topic from class readings and handouts.

1. Select evidence to support your Role’s perspective (at least 3 key points).

1. Complete the Outline sheet (separate sheet).

1. Draft your assignment. 

1. Peer editing and teacher conference.

7. Create a Final piece.

Guidelines for your writing:

Paper should be 1-2 pages long, single-spaced. Use Times New Roman font.

Grade will be based on:

• Appropriate supporting evidence (at least three key points)
• Voice authenticity and tone
• Sentence fluency, conventions, and grammar

Example:

Role	Audience	Format	Topic
Franklin Delano Roosevelt	the American People	Fire-side chat speech	explaining the proposed solution to restoring the country economically

Date: Sunday, June 1933

As we set out to improve our country’s economic health, we must be mindful of all of our actions in government.  This being so, I have taken into account the most pertinent aspects of our current situtation: increasing American jobs and strengthening the American banking system.  Tonight’s broadcast will highlight what Congress and myself have negotiated to best improve our countries economic stability.  I propose a New Deal, a new way of thinking, a new way of government working for the American people.

First and foremost, the plight of the American people and lack of jobs will continue no longer.  The thirteen million Americans without work will have work provided by the federal government.  I have worked to set up programs that improve our country’s infastructure as well as provide relief for struggling individuals and families.  One such program is the Civil Works Administration (CWA), which will hire four million Americans to build roads and airports.  Another important project is the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which will conquer two issues at once: bringing electricity to communities along the Tennessee River Valley and providing jobs to the American people.  As I meet with families struggling to feed milk and bread to their children, I work more diligently to find jobs in any avenue available.  I will continue to work with Congress to find alternative resources for jobs.

Second, the situation with American farmers has been dismal.  Part of the New Deal will support farmer’s financial situation by supporting farmers to produce less goods, in order to decrease inflation and loss of earnings.  Farmers will be able to gain profit in comparision to the last decade.

As you go out these next few weeks, be mindful of the changes to your surroundings.  With regard to banks, only economically stable banks will be open for business.  You can feel confident that all your monies will be available when needed and insured federally up to $5,000.00.  There is no need to withdraw your funds because of fear.  Remember, as I stated previously “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  So go forth and remain calm.  Your money is safe in American banks.

The changes we are making are intended to stabilize and prevent another economi crisis.  Through the programs and stronger government role, the American way of life can and will be sustained.  We will again prosper as a nation, as individuals, and in the same spirit as we have always had.

Rubric:

Support for Topic (Content) _____x 3	Appropriate evidence used, quality details are used from class readings and give the reader important information that goes beyond the obvious or predictable.	Some appropriate evidence used, but some information is incorrect. Class readings are clearly used.	Little to no appropriate evidence is used. Writer did not use class readings or discussions in writing.	Virtually no evidence used or is completely off topic.
Voice Authenticity ______x 2	Tone is highly believable and appropriate for specific Role chosen. Writing reflects respect for Audience.	Tone is appropriate for specific Role chosen. Writing may or may not account for audience.	Tone is generic or not related to Role chosen. Writing does not reflect knowledge of audience.	Writing seems like it is not in the Role chosen. Audience is disregarded completely.
Sentence Fluency, Conventions, and Grammar _____x 1	Writing flows from one idea to the next, accurate Format used, accurate grammar and syntax make reading easy.	Writing skips few to no ideas; accurate Format is used, somewhat accurate grammar and syntax make reading relatively easy.	Writer jumps from one idea to the next, Format does not match assignment sheet, writing is difficult to understand based on grammar and syntax.	Writing is incoherent and extremely difficult to understand. Unclear what Format is used and grammar and syntax make the piece incomprehensible.

Total Points Possible 24

14: 10 Numerous

When and where found: I found this word while reading Melissa's reciprocal teaching article by Moss (2004).  The author was telling teachers how to select appropriate texts for students.  She states, "...teachers must choose books that don't overwhelm children with difficult technical vocabulary and numerous complex concepts" (p. 712).

What it means: Numerous in the context it was being used refers to an extreme amount.  Merriam-Webster dictionary online states numerous means "consisting of great numbers of units or individuals."  Taken in the context of the sentence, numerous reflects a stronger meaning than what Merriam-Webster dictionary online projects.

Level of familiarity: I am pretty familiar with numerous, although I do not usually use it in my speech.  I still fully comprehend the word in writing and conversations.

To know well or not: Yes, this word is worth knowing well.  Knowing this word well will allow use of various words throughout papers etc.

14: 9 Distinctions

When and where found:  I found this while reading the Nagy (1988) article titled Teaching Vocabulary to Improve Reading Comprehension.  Nagy was writing about semantic feature analysis and explained that the strategy works best if students can understand some distinctions in meaning.

What it means: Distinction refers to differences or slight differences in meaning.  According to Merriam-Webster dictionary online, distinction means "the distinguishing of a difference."

Level of Familiarity:  I am very familiar with this word.  I use it in my writing and speech.  It's also one of my favorite words because it more describes a difference without actually using "difference," which is so overused.

To know well or not: Yes, people of all kinds should know this word well.  It enriches our language when used.  Using distinction instead of difference also offers less negative connotation that difference can sometimes bring.

14: 8 Preclude

When and Where found: I found this word while reading the Brock (2007) article.  Brock was discussing the methods of her data research while allowing the case study student to view the lesson and comment on how he felt.

What it means: In the context it was being used, preclude means to come to an answer before actually evaluating the information.  According to Merriam-Webster dictionary online it means to "rule out in advance," which supports what Brock was meaning in her article.

Level of Familiarity: I actually had never seen this word in print before reading it.  I did understand it readily based on my prefix and suffix knowledge.

To know well or not: This word has value, especially in dealing with reading and writing studies.  It may or may not come in handy while writing our teacher action research papers in the future.

14: 7 Interpsychologically

When and where found: I found this word while reading an article by Brock (2007) about an English Language Learner's experience in a classroom.  Brock was outlining previous theory research, specifically Vygotsky.  She explained that Vygotsky suggested reading and writing "take place interpsychologically" (p. 474).

What it means:  Interpsychologically means something takes place within social interactions (Brock, 2007, p. 474).  When thinking about reading and writing processes, individuals are not simply comprehending information in the absence of social interactions.  By way of their very nature, reading and writing require more than one perspective, in essence an interaction between two or more individuals.

Level of Familiarity: I am vaguely familiar with this word; however, I did comprehend the meaning of it based on context and appropriate background knowledge.

To know well or not:  Yes and no. This word is content specific so using root word break downs with generally be an effective means to comprehend the word.  Generally speaking, this word is not likely to arise in everyday conversations.

14: 6 Efficient

When and where found: I heard this word at work yesterday when my boss told me I was very efficient.

What it means: According to my boss’ comment, it meant that I accomplish tasks in an appropriate or speedy timeframe and that I have something to show for my time.  Merriam-Webster dictionary online states efficient means “productive of desired effects.”

Level of Familiarity:  I would consider myself pretty familiar with this word because I continually strive to be as efficient as possible. To do so sometimes requires that I write lists so that I remember what needs to get done.

To know well or not: Yes, understanding this word would be helpful in almost any situation.  Efficiency, especially in a capitalistic society is an important part of our daily experience.  To be efficient is a main goal.

14: 5 Semantic Maps

When and where found:  I found this word while reading the article by Baumann, Ware, and Edwards (2007) and also encountered it while reading Nagy (1988).  The authors were simply describing what the teacher did with her students in order to deepen students’ understanding of the words imperialism and siege.

What it means:  Semantic Maps are a specific learning tool used to map the specific links a word has to other words, which also support understanding the meaning (Nagy, 1988).

Level of Familiarity:  I am very familiar with Semantic Maps.  I believe they are a great way to teach vocabulary because they help students realize the connections between words.

To know well or not: Yes, certainly as teachers we should know this word well.  In addition, being able to use semantic mapping as a classroom activity could improve student understanding of reading content or course content more effectively.