Transcript WRITING TEST

North Carolina
10th Grade Writing Test
March 9, 2010
EVERY ESSAY:
 INTRODUCTION
 BODY
PARAGRAPHS
(3 OR MORE)
 CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
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HOOK
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Get the audience’s attention
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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Quote, thought-provoking question, a
description, anecdote, etc.
Information that connects the hook to
the thesis
THESIS
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Gives the main idea of the essay and
the points covered in the body
paragraphs
BODY PARAGRAPH
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TOPIC SENTENCE
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SUPPORT
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Tells the main idea of the paragraph
At least three sentences: use personal experiences,
examples from ANY readings [literary, newspapers,
magazines, other courses], famous people/events,
prompt information provided [quotes, statistics, etc.]
Elaboration
 Writer’s explanation of how the support is
important to proving the thesis
CLINCHER/TRANSITION SENTENCE
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Sums up the paragraph, speaks to the audience, and
moves the reader to the next paragraph
CONCLUSION
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Restate thesis
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Differently from the way the thesis is used in
the introduction
Impact Statement
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Leave your audience with something to
remember such as a vision, thoughtful
question, short anecdote, meaningful quote, or
call to action. The conclusion should come full
circle by giving closure to discussion started in
the introduction.
Remember, the conclusion is the last chance to
make a good impression upon the reader.
COMPONENTS OF AN ESSAY
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INTRODUCTION
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BODY PARAGRAPHS
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Hook
Background information
Thesis
Topic sentence
Support (3 or more)
Elaboration
Clincher or transitional sentence
CONCLUSION
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Restate thesis
Impact statement
INFORMATIONAL WRITING
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DEFINITION
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CAUSE AND EFFECT
FIRST TASK
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READ THE PROMPT AND IDENTIFY:
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PURPOSE
(WHY ARE YOU WRITING THE ESSAY? WHAT IS
YOUR POINT?)

AUDIENCE
(TO WHOM IS THE ESSAY DIRECTED?)
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CONTEXT
(LETTER? ESSAY? SPEECH?)
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TOPIC
(THIS IS THE KEYWORD THAT SHOULD BE REPEATED
IN EVERY PARAGRAPH.)
If you have identified PACT, and your essay
addresses these elements, you have kept your
agreement, or pact, with your audience.
DEFINITION ESSAY
Good Judgment
FIRST TASK
Throughout a teenager’s life, he or
she is faced with making good
judgments. This value is an
important part of being productive as
an individual or as a part of a group.
Consider the times in your life when
you have had to make decisions
which influenced how others would
see you, when you chose to use
good judgment. Then, using the
information provided above, your
own experiences, observations, and
readings, write a speech to inform
incoming freshmen of the
meaning of good judgment.
Purpose:
Define good judgment
Audience:
Incoming freshmen
Context:
Speech
Topic:
Good judgment
CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY
Extracurricular Activities
FIRST TASK
The board of education in
your community is
considering cutting the
budget for extracurricular
activities. Write a letter to
the board, describing the
positive effects of
extracurricular activities.
You may use the information
presented, your own
experiences, observations,
and/or readings.
Purpose:
Describe the positive effects
of extracurricular activities
Audience:
The board of education
Context:
Letter
Topic:
Extracurricular activities
MAKE SURE TO USE:
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Dialogue: conversation (assists in showing,
not telling) Don’t forget to use quotations
marks.
Rhetorical question: Question that does not
require an answer but makes the reader
think
Analogies: comparisons; similes, metaphors
Personal experiences, readings, and
observations (famous person, event,
literature)
Examples: give SPECIFIC examples to
support each topic sentence
Statistics: facts using percentages
Elaboration
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Who? Have you explained to whom
the event occurred?
Where? Have you made clear where
the event took place?
When? Is it relevant that you include
when the event happened?
Why? Why is this information
included in your essay? Is it
important to the topic?
PLAGIARISM
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If you use the exact words, you
must use quotations and give the
source.
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Example: Time magazine states, “42%
of Americans…”
If you use the idea or information,
exact words or not, you must give
the source.

Example: Time magazine argues that
many Americans…
Other Words for “Said”
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Stated
Warranted
Claimed
Explained
Announced
Questioned
Included
Acknowledged
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Explained
Instructed
Mentioned
Pleaded
Proclaimed
Requested
Observed
Suggested
How to Add Quotes
Mahatma Gandhi proclaimed, “Live as
if you were to die tomorrow. Learn
as if you were to live forever.”
OR
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
Learn as if you were to live
forever,” Mahatma Gandhi
proclaimed.
How to Add a Portion of a Quote
Michelle Weiner claims in her article
“The Case for Extracurricular
Activities” that students who
participate in extracurricular
activities “tend to have higher GPAs
and are less likely to drop out.”
Punctuating Titles
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All books, magazines, and movies
should be underlined.
 To Kill A Mockingbird
 Time
 The Devil’s Arithmetic
All short stories, magazine articles,
newspaper articles, or short works
should be enclosed with quotation
marks.
 “How Much Land Does a Man Need?”
 “Effects of Television”
Possible Openers (Audience)
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Fellow Cavaliers:
Future Cavaliers:
Graduating Class:
Class of 2010:
Dear Editor:
Board of Education Members:
Chamber of Commerce Directors:
Concerned Citizens:
SHOW NOT TELL
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Use “I” and “you” sparingly.
Use “I” and “you” only when you
are speaking to the audience
directly or if you are giving a
personal experience.
Do not say, “I am going to tell
you…” OR
“This essay is about…”
Dead Words
Eliminate verbs that do not “show.”
 All linking verbs: am, is , are, was, were,
have, has, etc.
 All sensory verbs: look, see, touch, smell,
etc.
Eliminate words that do not “show.”
 thing, stuff, a lot, good, bad, got, etc.
Be careful about overuse of pronouns:
 it, its, their, them, he, she, etc.
“Showing” words
Instead, use words that “show” the point you are
making.
She is going to the store.
Sally strolled past the old barn to Wilson’s BP.
Students have lots of problems with things that take
too much of their time after school.
Students experience enormous problems with
activities that absorb too much of their time after
school.
Transition Words and Direct
References
Use transitional words to connect ideas within and between
sentences and paragraphs.
 Initially, furthermore, moreover, however, additionally,
alternately, similarly, on the contrary, conversely, etc.
Use direct references by repeating key words.
If the following sentence is a clincher for a body paragraph:
One of the most important parts of having integrity is being
willing to do what is right regardless of the sacrifice or cost
to one’s self.
An effective use of direct reference in the topic sentence of the
next body paragraph would be:
Beyond the willingness to sacrifice for what is right,
integrity involves making model decisions when no one will be
aware of your decision.
CONVENTIONS
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Complete sentences/no run-ons
Capitalize the first word in the
sentence, I, and all proper nouns.
End punctuation
Commas (If in doubt, leave it out!)
Do not use slang, such as
contractions (doesn’t or can’t),
abbreviations (& or 4), or
inappropriate words (hisself or thing)
Sample Essay – Definition: Good
Judgment
Sample Essay--Cause and Effect
Extracurricular Activities
Guiding Questions for Reviewing Rough Draft
Focus:
1. Does the writer maintain focus throughout the entire
paper?
2. Does the paper accomplish its purpose?
3. Are all aspects of the prompt completely addressed?
Organization:
1. Is the paper written in the proper format?
2. Does the writer have a strong introduction?
3. Does the writer have a strong conclusion?
4. Can the reader understand this writing from beginning
to end?
Support and Elaboration:
1. Is the topic developed with specific, relevant details?
2. Does the composition have enough elaboration to be convincing?
3. Has the writer used support from their readings?
4. Has the writer used support from personal experiences?
5. Has the writer used support from personal observations?
Style:
1. Is the audience appropriately addressed?
2. Does the writer use words that are precise, engaging, and well
suited to the purpose, audience, and context?
3. Does the writer use a variety of well-crafted sentences that
establish relationships between and among ideas and
statements?
4. Does the writer avoid repetition by using a variety of transition
words, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs?
Conventions:
1. Is the reader distracted by inappropriate/incorrect sentence
structure?
2. Does the writer have a strong command of appropriate grade
level vocabulary?
3. Does the writer use correct punctuation, capitalization, and
spelling?
Short Answer:
1. What is the focus of the paper?
2. What is the purpose of the paper?
3. What factors make this a good introduction? (Anecdote,
unusual statement, startling fact, quote, question, etc.)
4. What factors make this a good conclusion? (Scenario, visual
image, looping, etc.)
5. Who is the audience?
6. What makes the writing effective and convincing?
Tips for Scoring Extra Points
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(1)Use descriptive language.(2)Current movies, shows,
etc. (3) Memorable clinchers. (4) Sophisticated vocabulary.
The moment I step onto a tennis court with my hair in
a ponytail and wearing my dress, I can feel the hot sun
bear down on me as my shoes stomp on the hard texture
of the tennis court. The thrill of a challenge excites me the
most and adrenaline pulses through my veins when I view
my opponent. Tennis provides me with the opportunity to
demonstrate my athletic ability and also have a great time.
In the movie She’s the Man, the main character’s high
school soccer team is cut, causing her and the other
players to become completely despondent. Their hopes of
getting their chance to shine on the soccer field were
crushed entirely. Whenever the main character played
soccer, she felt the same as I do when I play tennis: free,
happy, and content.
A Closer Look
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(1) Call out appropriate audience. (2) Good imagery in
hook. (3) Thesis that identifies author’s stance and
points discussed in the essay. (4) Sophisticated
vocabulary.
Dear Board of Education:
Sure, school can be fun; you have quadratic
equations, Bunsen burners, and grammar. Going home
to watch television, download music to your iPod, and
play the latest Halo game on Xbox are also entertaining.
However, extracurricular activities provide numerous
challenges and opportunities for students outside of
school. The activities elicit students to make new
friends, stay in school to achieve prominent grades, and
build character to enhance college applications.
GOOD
LUCK!!!!!