Overview

Cue sentences help guide your students' writing. They require students to demonstrate an understanding of the words and leave plenty of room for them to use their imaginations. They give enough context to provide students a narrative foothold without being prescriptive or inadvertently hinting at the target word's meaning. This article will show you your options for including cue sentences on your writing assignments.

Because Cues

On Because Cues, students will finish the sentence that is started for them. The target word is already used, and they must meet the length requirement as they complete the thought. They do not need to use the target word in their writing.

Here's an example of a Because Cue for the word judicious:

I remember Cues

I remember Cues also have students finish the sentence that is started for them. Once again, the target word is already used, and they must meet the length requirement as they complete the thought. They do not need to use the target word in their writing. 

Here's an example of an I remember Cue for the word arbitrary:

Literary Cues

Literary Cues are very challenging. Students will be provided with lines from literature that use the target word. They select a line to build off of with their own writing. They can write above the cue, below it, or both. The goal is to weave this line from literature with their own work. They must use the target word in their writing.

Here's an example of the Literary Cues the student can choose from for the word adversity: