Transcript ACT Preparations Helping Teachers and Students Prepare for

Writing
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A little light reading!
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ACT Writing Test
A Persuasive Essay
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One essay
30 minutes
Occurs after the 4 multiple choice tests
Does not impact Composite score
Will result in 2 additional scores
– Combined English/Writing score (1-36)
– Writing Test subscore (2-12)
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The Essay…
• will be available to the high school and to colleges to
which ACT reports the scores from a test date.
• is designed to measure the writing skills that are
expected of students entering the first-year college
composition course.
• consists of one writing prompt that briefly states an issue
and describes two points of view on that issue. The
student is asked to take a position and support that
position with specific reasons and examples.
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Scoring ranges from 2-12
• 2 readers
• Holistic score of 1-6
– Added together
– 3rd reader if scores differ by more than 1 point
• 1 - 4 narrative comments included
• “Scores in 3-4 and 5-6 range are the minimum
for students to be ready for college-level
writing assignments.”
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The Official Word From ACT…
• At this time there is no ACT Writing benchmark. Our
benchmarks are derived from actual performance of students
in college level courses. Less than 24% of institutions require
the writing score for placement/admission purposes, and use it
in various ways therefore we do not have enough data to
support a writing benchmark score. That is not to say ACT will
never have a writing college readiness benchmark as every
three years our ACT research team publishes The National
Curriculum Survey that monitors the actual use of our
assessments and we are seeing increasing usage of the writing
score in both the secondary and post-secondary level.
• We are definitely seeing more states choose to adopt the
writing portion of the ACT as a way to demonstrate a
student’s writing ability, state specific curriculum alignment/
accountability, and to create college access for all students
who would less likely take the ACT Plus Writing.
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Considerations
• Pencil and paper
• Needs to be readable
• 30 minute timing means planning is essential
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The Prompt
• Subjects that relate to interests and experiences
of HS students.
• Issue briefly stated
• 2 positions described
• Choose 1 (or your own unique)
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Position does not affect score
Maintain focus throughout
Position developed by logical reasoning
Ideas presented in organized way
Use written language clearly, correctly, and effectively
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Every ACT Essay is Formatted in
the Same Way…
• The first paragraph lays out an issue and then
briefly presents opposing viewpoints
• The last sentence in the first paragraph poses
the question for the student to consider.
• The second paragraph gives the standard
directions for writing the essay.
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An Example Prompt
• In some high schools, many teachers and parents
have encouraged the school to adopt a dress code
that sets guidelines for what students can wear in
the school building. Some teachers and parents
support a dress code because they think it will
improve the learning environment in the school.
Other teachers and parents do not support a dress
code because they think it restricts the individual
student’s freedom of expression. In your opinion,
should high schools adopt dress codes for students?
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And Another
• Educators debate extending high school to five
years because of increasing demands on students
from employers and colleges to participate in
extracurricular activities and community service in
addition to having high grades. Some educators
support extending high school to five years
because they think students need more time to
achieve all that is expected of them. Other
educators do not support extending high school to
five years because they think students would lose
interest in school and attendance would drop in
the fifth year. In your opinion, should high school
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be extended to five years?
The Directions (always the same)
• In your essay, take a position on this question. You
may write about either one of the two points of
view given, or you may present a different point of
view on this question. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your position.
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Students are advised to…
• Make the essay as polished as possible.
• Make sure that all words are written clearly and
neatly so that readers can read them easily.
• Take a few minutes to think through the essay and
jot preliminary notes on the planning pages in the
scoring booklet before beginning to write.
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Steps in the Essay Process
• Plan and organize
• Write:
– Introduction
– Body
– Conclusion
• Review and revise
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Suggestions for crafting the
response…
No penalty for ‘cookbook’ formulas such as the
5 paragraph essay
…each with 3 supporting details
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5 Main Scoring Criteria
• Expressing Judgments (evaluate the issue, pick a
position and articulate it to the reader, acknowledge
other perspectives)
• Focusing on the Topic (narrow down to specific
topic & discuss controversial aspect)
• Developing a Position (explain position through
logical discussion)
• Organizing Ideas (ideas are organized and presented
in a logical way, well-integrated transitions)
• Using Language (use of sentence structure, word
choice, and conventions)
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The Holistic Scoring Rubric
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Analyzing School Writing Reports and
Using to Inform Instruction
Ideas for Progress
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Next Steps:
• Inform staff about the ACT Writing assessment.
• Make decisions about where this type of writing will
be taught across grade levels and content areas.
• Provide staff with information, links and resources.
• Ensure designated staff has had adequate
preparation with rubric, anchor papers, and scoring.
• Provide ongoing opportunities for staff to analyze
results of student assessment data and share best
practices.
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