Pick, List, Evaluate, Arrange, Say more, End (PLEASE) Strategy
Strategy Parameters
- Genre: Informative & Expository.
- Grade Level: Upper elementary to middle school (Grades 4–8).
- Writing Process: Planning and drafting
At-A-Glance
The PLEASE strategy is a self-regulated writing tool designed to help students plan and organize their informative and expository writing effectively. It promotes clear, logical idea development by breaking the writing process into manageable, step-by-step tasks.
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Best Practices
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Model each step with examples using think-alouds, allowing students to hear the internal thought process as the paragraph is written.
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Provide opportunities for students to talk through ideas and refine them with peers before they begin writing.
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Use visuals like anchor charts, icons, and graphic organizers to reinforce the strategy.
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Reinforce the strategy across multiple subjects and diverse writing tasks, such as journals, science reports, and social studies summaries.
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Combine modeling with visual supports to cater to various learning styles and solidify understanding.
Common Pitfalls
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Don’t skip the evaluation step within the strategy; students must be taught how to prioritize and select only their strongest ideas.
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Don’t assume students will internalize the strategy after one lesson; repetition builds mastery and confidence.
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Don’t use PLEASE only once; consistent repetition is necessary for students to develop automaticity and self-regulation.
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Don’t rely solely on verbal instruction; use visual aids and interactive practice to help students internalize the steps.
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Don’t forget that students will need scaffolding like sentence starters and graphic organizers as they gain confidence.
Implementation Tips
- Prepare and Introduce the Acronym: Prepare all necessary materials, including chart paper, markers, and visuals, and write “PLEASE” vertically on the chart. Explain the purpose of the strategy and guide students through each letter, providing the correct meaning, a student-friendly explanation, and a simple icon for visual connection.
- Model and Collaborate: Begin with a think-aloud and a shared writing activity to model each step of the strategy, which builds comfort and engagement. Encourage students to participate by suggesting example sentences and decorating the chart to make the process interactive.
- Visual Reinforcement and Independent Use: Display the completed, personalized anchor chart prominently and refer to it during all writing time. Encourage students to use the chart as a checklist during planning and drafting, and celebrate when they apply the PLEASE steps independently across different subjects.
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