Sample Writing Prompt

Your principal is trying to create an environment in which the staff at your school works together more effectively and has asked for your help. Write a memo to your fellow teachers on this topic. In this memo include why it is important for staff to collaborate, possible ways this might be accomplished, and the potential challenges of collaboration.

Your response will be evaluated based on how well you communicate your message to the intended audience, not on your personal opinions, position, or point of view. Your response will be evaluated based on how well organized and focused your writing is, how well you develop and elaborate on your ideas, and your grammar and mechanics.

Example of a “3” Response

Dear Fellow Teachers,

On behalf of our Principal, I would like to inform you fellow teachers of the intention of our Principal to create a working environment with more effective collaboration among all of us. A collaboration, which will increase our communication and interaction that will lead to a more successful operation of our school.

In view to this, there are three things that we need to do. First, we need to form or organize different committees, which will be formed on 2nd week of March 2007. These are committees on academic (curriculum improvement), school activities and affairs, administration (training, health and safety, budgeting, resources e.g. manpower and facilities ) that will oversee implementation of the plans and monitoring of its progress. Second, corresponding representative(s) of each committee will bring their accomplishments or concerns on meetings that will be conducted every end of the month or quartery. Third, every trained personnel or teacher should echo to other staff whatever knowledge they acquired from the training.

We acknowledge of the additional load which is merely the cause of resistance that this collaboration strategy will give to us in the first few months, however, as we continue implementing and practicing this, we will become accustomed and later on we will see the benefits or effects to us and to our operation.

We hope for your support on this activity.