Differentiation using RAFT

Black Death Writing

Collin Case
9th Grade World History

WHAT IS RAFT?
RAFT stands for Role, Audience, Format, Topic.
The purpose of RAFT is to help students to understand the different aspects that go into writing and give them a
starting point. RAFT allows for students to make their own idea or use instructor provided ideas. When writing, it
is important to understand from whose perspective am I writing? To whom am I writing? How will I communicate
to my audience? What am I writing about? One of the big reasons to use RAFT is to allow for students to write in a
way that they enjoy and on a subject they like.

BIG IDEAS
Big Ideas
Societies are shaped by events and their environments.
This idea addresses Kansas History Government and Social Studies standard number 5 Relationships
between people, places, ideas, and environments are dynamic.
Essential Questions for Students
Who am I writing to?
From whose perspective am I writing?
What am I trying to communicate?
What is the best way for this person to communicate?

Students need to
Know: Student will need to be familiar with what the Black Death was, who it affected, how society
reacted, the flagellant movement, and the symptoms of the disease.
Understand: Students will need to understand how the elements of RAFT play into writing. Students will
also need to understand the larger outcomes of the black death on society.
Be able to: Students will need to be able to write some form of story, song, or leaflet in order to convey
information to their audience using the RAFT method.

GIVE ME DETAILS
Preassessment:
This assignment will not have a pre-assessment because it is the first major writing assignment and will
act as their base line and will be used to determine what they need assistance on in their future writings.

Will students work alone?

Students will work by themselves since this is acting as a preassessment/writing sample which will help
determine their individual needs. .

How will students pick their topic?

Students will be able to pick from several sub topics within the major topic of the Black Death. This will
fulfill the T portion of the RAFT.

How will it be differentiated?

Both product and process with be differentiated. Because students will have choice in what type of
writing they do, the product and process can be differentiated. I have provided several choices for them
to act as a spring board, but they can always make their own.
The student learner elements involved
Student readiness will be assessed based upon the product. Learning profile and interest will play into
what students pick as their RAFT.
RESOURCES
Student Resources

Black Death Writing Black Death History

Assignment RAFT.docx Channel.docx
Teacher Resources
Tomlinson, Carol A. How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-ability Classrooms. Alexandria, VA: Association
for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2001. Print.
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Black Plague Narrative

For the purpose of this assignment, you need to take the knowledge you have of the Middle Ages and the

Plague and apply it to a fictional writing. You will need to put yourself in the shoes of a person living in this

time period. Use the following as an idea of whose perspective to write from these are not the only

perspectives but simply ideas:

Role (perspective) Audience (who youre writing to) Format (method of writing) Topic (what theyre writing about)
A Ruler in Europe His Subjects Speech New Laws being enacted to keep
people safe
A Flagellant Other flagellants Letter The success he is having preaching
the word of God
A peasant To his/her self Journal The problems s/he is facing since
the plague began.
A bard Tavern goers Song A lyrical writing of the disease and
its effects

You need to make this writing either 1 and a half pages double space size twelve font typed or three pages

written in as close to size 12 font as possible. The songs length will be discussed if you choose to do it.

Within the writing you need to include the following:

a description of the place in which your character lives

a description of their current situation
why they think the plague is happening
how society is affected
what their plans are for the future
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Exemplary Satisfactory Poor Needs Improvement

Readability/Flow The writing is well Writing reads well but Writing has many errors Writing has so many
crafted and reads has some errors making it difficult to errors that it is
easily. making it difficult to read nearly unreadable. unreadable.
read but is still
readable.
Realism The writing is incredibly The writing follows the The writing does not The writing doesnt
realistic and fits with historical accounts well follow the historical follow the records at all
the historical accounts. but has some unreal accounts well or is and is almost entirely
parts. unrealistic to the time. unrealistic.
Meets all requirements Every listed required One requirement is Two or three are 4 or more items are
listed item is included missing missing missing
Detail Writing is well detailed Writing is detailed but Writing lacks detail, Writing has almost no
and gives the reader an doesnt give a clear which keeps the reader detail.
idea of the period. picture. from picturing the
writing.