R.A.F.T.
RAFT is a powerful writing strategy that effectively combines literacy and content. In this strategy, students are assigned a Role (who or what are they), the Audience (who is the reader), the Format (argumentative writing, a memo, a letter, etc.), and a Topic. For example, a science class may assign a Digestive System RAFT.
Role = Food
Audience = The Person Eating
Format = Personified Essay
Topic = The Digestive System
Once the students have ensured their comprehension and reviewed the rubric and essential concepts, they may start with their work. One may expect an essay to start with the following;
Hi, my name is Lenny Lasagna and I am very excited to start on this journey through the digestive system! It is cold on this plate and this metal object won’t stop bullying me. At least I am not alone; I am here with Marla the Mashed Potato, and Sammy Sauce. That’s a weird combination of spaghetti and mashed potatoes, but I guess my guy is hungry for some carbohydrates! First stop, the mouth!
To ensure the successful completion of the assignment, we provide students with scaffolded support, which includes access to prior knowledge, engagement, and preparation throughout our RAFTS. Our products typically include two pages of detailed instruction, a criteria checklist and organizer, writing prompts, a vocabulary list, an active writing page, and a rubric to assess the final product. We also offer RAFT Lists for specific science topics and RAFT options list, which can be found on our Science and Inquiry page and our Literacy in the Classroom page.
