3W Mini Kit- Identifying Three Types of Writing

Help Students Understand What a Writing Prompt Is Asking!

Before students can write an essay, they need to understand what kind of writing they're being asked to do.

The 3W Mini Kit introduces students to the three major types of academic writing:

• Informative: Explain or inform.
• Argumentative: Take a position in a debate.
• Comparative: Explore similarities and differences.

Using simple visual icons, guiding questions, and hands-on activities, students learn how to recognize each type of writing before they begin their essays.

What's Included?

• 3W Visual Writing Guide – Help students recognize the three types of academic writing.
• Reusable 3W Menu – Give students questions they can ask themselves when reading a writing prompt.
• Teacher Guide – Step-by-step instructions for introducing and practicing the strategy.
• Student Practice Worksheets – Help students identify writing types and explain their reasoning.
• BONUS: 10 Writing Prompts + Answer Key – Ready-to-use examples for classroom practice.

Ready to Use in Your Classroom!

Print the resources, introduce the 3W Menu, and let students practice identifying what different writing prompts are asking them to do.

Use the included prompts to get started, then reuse the strategy with writing assignments from your own curriculum.

Perfect for teachers supporting reluctant writers, multilingual learners, and students who need extra help understanding academic writing.

✨ Make writing visible. Build understanding before students begin writing.

Digital download | Printable classroom resources | For single-classroom use