ABSTRACT
Prewrite focuses the writers and prepares them for Compose, and it models the importance of planning before writing. Thus, the Prewrite phase evolves as the writing becomes longer and more complex. For emergent writers, the Prewrite step most often involves you deciding on the purpose and form for writing and telling students at the beginning of the lesson why they are writing the piece, as well as clarifying for students who the audience will be. In all cases, the Prewrite discussion informs the writing piece. Thus it follows that any charts or organizers created during Prewrite are directly tied to the writing you and your students will do during Compose and Share the Pen. If the goal of the interactive writing lesson is a single sentence, then it follows that the time and work within Prewrite may be shorter and perhaps less formal.
