English Language Arts: Writing Pre-Planning (TEKS.ELA.9-12.10.A)
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Texas High School ELA › English Language Arts: Writing Pre-Planning (TEKS.ELA.9-12.10.A)
You and your classmates are meeting with staffers for members of the Texas Legislature to advocate for expanding school-based mental health services statewide. Your purpose is to persuade policymakers to support a measured increase in funding while acknowledging budget constraints, proposing a phased plan, and demonstrating likely outcomes (reduced absenteeism, improved graduation rates). The audience expects concise, nonpartisan analysis, clear fiscal implications, and feasible implementation steps.
Which genre and planning approach would most effectively achieve your goals with this audience?
A policy brief tailored to legislators with an executive summary; Texas-relevant data citations; cost–benefit analysis; phased budget scenarios; anticipated objections; implementation timeline; and a formal, solution-oriented tone.
A heartfelt personal blog post describing student stress, minimal data, and conversational tone, published on the class website.
A campus petition flyer with slogans, a QR code, and a list of signatures to show interest.
A reflective journal entry exploring feelings about mental health stigma without a concrete fiscal plan.
Explanation
Legislators expect a policy brief that synthesizes credible data, fiscal analysis, and a concrete, phased plan. The other options are informal, lack budget detail, or do not match the professional expectations or decision-making needs of the audience.
Your civics club aims to influence a major metropolitan newspaper's editorial page about urban heat mitigation ahead of the city's budget adoption. The purpose is to persuade an editorial board and informed readers using credible evidence, acknowledge trade-offs (cost, equity, maintenance), and offer time-sensitive recommendations that editors could reasonably endorse.
Which genre and planning approach best aligns with this professional publication and purpose?
A technical white paper with dense jargon, exhaustive methods, and appendices exceeding typical reader expectations.
A casual podcast script featuring banter with friends and no formal sourcing or editorial timing.
A tightly argued op-ed (about 750–800 words) following the paper's style guide: clear thesis, sourced data, acknowledgment of counterarguments, and actionable recommendations aligned to the budget calendar.
A colorful classroom poster sharing generic tips without citations or policy detail.
Explanation
An op-ed matches the editorial board's venue, length, and standards, allowing persuasive, evidence-based argument with a clear call to action. A white paper is too technical, while a podcast script or poster lacks the formality and sourcing expected by this audience.
Your research team will present an original study on sleep-app use and teen focus at a regional student research symposium. Faculty judges expect scholarly structure, transparent methods, interpretable visuals, and readiness to defend your analysis and limitations. Your purpose is to inform and persuade academically that your findings are valid and meaningful.
Which genre and planning approach would be most effective for this academic audience?
A narrative short story told from a student's viewpoint to evoke empathy about sleep.
A conference-style research poster with abstract, methods, results, discussion, clear figures, and APA references; plus a planned 5-minute oral summary and anticipated Q&A responses.
A series of informal social media posts summarizing takeaways with emojis and brief captions.
A fundraising letter to parents inviting donations for new lab equipment.
Explanation
A structured research poster with scholarly sections, visuals, and prepared oral defense aligns with academic norms and the judges' expectations. The other options are informal or unrelated to the scholarly purpose.
Your service-learning group is collaborating with a nonprofit to preserve a historic Tejano dance hall. To fund restoration and community programming, you must apply to a regional foundation that prioritizes cultural preservation, access, and measurable community impact. The audience expects adherence to the RFP, a rigorous plan, a justified budget, evaluation metrics, and partner commitments under realistic constraints.
Which genre and planning approach best fits this specialized audience and purpose?
A casual thank-you note including a few photos of the dance hall.
A social media campaign toolkit with hashtags, selfie frames, and suggested captions.
A travel blog post highlighting the dance hall's history and ambiance for potential visitors.
A competitive grant proposal following the foundation's RFP: project narrative grounded in preservation standards, logic model, itemized and justified budget with matching funds, inclusive programming plan, timeline, risk mitigation, evaluation metrics, and letters of support.
Explanation
A formal grant proposal that satisfies the foundation's criteria and details the plan, budget, and evaluation is the appropriate genre. The other options are informal, lack required components, and do not meet the professional expectations of a funding board.
You are leading a student coalition asking the Texas Senate Education Committee to fund additional bilingual mental-health counselors in public high schools along the border. Legislators have tight budget caps this session and expect concise, nonpartisan evidence, clear costs, and a feasible rollout plan that aligns with TEA guidelines.
Which genre and planning approach would most effectively meet this audience's expectations and purpose?
A creative short story depicting a student's stressful semester; plan: draft vivid scenes and emotional arc to inspire empathy.
A concise policy brief for committee staff with an executive summary, cost-benefit analysis, phased implementation options, citations to TEA data, and anticipated objections; plan: stakeholder map, budget offsets, and appendix of evidence tables.
A student club newsletter article; plan: brainstorm catchy headings and include photos from campus events.
A long personal blog post; plan: collect student testimonies and write an informal reflection on stress.
Explanation
A policy brief aligns with a legislative audience, budget constraints, and the need for evidence, costs, and implementation details. The other options are informal or narrative and do not meet the committee's professional standards or decision-making needs.
Your civics capstone requires you to influence district-level policy by publishing for professionals. You aim to persuade school board members and administrators by placing an evidence-based piece in a respected education or public health outlet about later high school start times, synthesizing peer-reviewed research and district transportation cost models.
Which genre and planning approach should you choose to achieve this professional, research-informed goal?
A pep-rally speech; plan: compile slogans and chants to energize students.
A casual social media thread; plan: write short posts with emojis and student anecdotes.
A campus poster series; plan: design colorful graphics and inspirational quotes.
An evidence-based commentary for a professional publication with a clear thesis, literature synthesis, APA citations, and a section on cost and logistics; plan: create a literature review matrix, outline counterarguments, and coordinate expert quotes.
Explanation
A professional commentary with rigorous synthesis and citation targets decision-makers and aligns with the analytical purpose. The other options lack the depth, formality, and credibility expected by administrators and board members.
A Houston neighborhood council has requested public input on flood mitigation before a bond allocation vote. You will speak during a three-minute slot to propose green infrastructure that balances homeowner concerns with cost and maintenance realities. Council members expect localized data, clear policy asks, and brief visuals for the record.
What genre and planning approach best fit this formal, time-bound setting?
Formal council testimony with a timed script, one-page handout, concise slide visuals, local drainage data, and specific policy requests; plan: rehearse to time, align points to agenda items, and include references to relevant city ordinances.
A personal vlog; plan: record a casual walk-through of the neighborhood and post it online.
A free-verse poem on rain and resilience; plan: draft imagery and metaphor to evoke mood.
A generic five-paragraph essay; plan: write broadly about flooding without local references.
Explanation
Formal testimony with targeted evidence and a clear policy ask matches the council's procedures and time limits. The other formats are informal or generic and do not meet the expectations of a public governance meeting.
You're preparing to engage scholars and cultural leaders at a regional Texas history conference to build a collaboration on preserving Tejano mural art. The audience expects a clearly defined research question, significance, methods for documentation, and a feasible partnership and funding plan.
Which genre and planning approach would best achieve credibility and attract collaborators in this academic setting?
A letter to the editor in a local newspaper; plan: write a brief opinion appealing to public sentiment.
A petition for signatures; plan: gather names to show broad community support.
A conference proposal and slide deck outlining thesis, literature context, documentation methods, timeline, preliminary archive list, and potential grant sources; plan: draft a 250–300 word abstract, curate sample images (rights-cleared), and prepare a Q&A strategy.
A fundraising flyer; plan: design a handout with donation QR codes and catchy slogans.
Explanation
A conference proposal with methods, significance, and a structured plan matches academic expectations and facilitates collaboration. The other options are public-facing advocacy tools and do not satisfy scholarly standards for method and rigor.