1. Editing and Revising Practice….
DIRECTIONS. Fix the grammatical errors in each of the
following sentences by writing them correctly on a separate
sheet of paper.
This weekend the best team in football new england patriots play the baltimore ravens at there home stadium gillete feild.
My friend sarah and me wanted to watch the cowboys game this weekend but we isnt sure what time their on.
Finally it occurs to me that the dallas cowboys arent in the playoffs this weekend which is to bad.

2. Mrs. Patterson English III
Essays
Mrs. Patterson
English III

3. Types of Essays Narrative - Tells a story
Creative and imaginative
Expository - Gives information
Research Paper
Persuasive - Tries to convince audience to see your point of view
Argument
Descriptive - Describes a person, place, event etc…
Journals

4. What is the TAKS essay? It is the writing portion of the ELA TAKS test
It follows the Reading portion, after the three OERs
The prompt is thematically connected to the literature and visual in the Reading portion.

5. What do I have to write?
The most popular way to approach the TAKS essay is by writing a personal narrative essay a form of writing in which the writer relates an event, incident, or experience in his or her own life.
The personal narrative incorporates vivid descriptive details as well as the thoughts,  feelings, and reactions of the writer.

6. Narrative Essay
Focuses on specific event, related to the prompt, coming from your personal experience.
Introduction - Sets up the story; grabs the reader’s attention (hook)
Body - Tell the story
Conclusion - What you learned from experience; tie back to prompt.

7. How do I write it? Use first person POV Write from what you know!
Be specific…NAME the characters, places, and things…eliminate vague generalities (i.e.-everyone, anybody, someone, we, you)
Use vivid active verbs
Focus and narrow the story to the real story – hover over the action
Use authentic voice – eliminate street language (“cuz”, “dat”, “thru”, “2”, “til” etc.)
Create smooth transitions…avoid “First, we…”, “Second, we…” – Don’t list events!

8. SHOW don’t TELL Some sentences just simply tell the reader information
EXAMPLE –
The man was really old and walked slowly.
Let your words create a picture in the reader’s mind
EXAMPLE –
A frail, stooped man with paper-thin skin shuffled along slowly in front of me.
Give the reader the opportunity to imagine it for themselves and engage in your writing.

9. How do I structure my essay?
Begin with an introduction that includes purpose and motivation for the action as well as the characters, setting and time
Build the body of the text around the ideas you presented in the introduction
Finish the essay with an insightful and meaningful conclusion; reflect on what you learned from the experience

10. Of course, don’t forget…
to use correct punctuation and spelling!
to develop sentences
No 1-pagers
evoke a reader response for the highest score…not just tears…

11. How is the essay scored?
On a scale of 0 – 4 (“4” being the highest score)
You must score a “2” or higher in order to pass the entire ELA TAKS test

12. What qualifies as a “1”? Focus and Coherence Hard to understand
Incomplete or extra information that is off subject
You aren’t clear about what you’re saying about the prompt
Organization
Few/no transitions
Ideas are hard to follow
Depth of Development
You give 1+ ideas but don’t develop
You just list ideas, and the reader can’t understand them
You leave out information, creating gaps that make it hard to understand
Voice
You don’t seem to care about your ideas, so the reader can’t either
No personality
Conventions
Your writing does not show the reader you can correctly spell or capitalize, and you have many errors in grammar, usage, and sentence structure that make it really hard to read

13. What qualifies as a “2”? Focus and Coherence
Has some focus but may shift quickly from idea to idea
Some sense of completeness, but has extra information that doesn’t make your writing clearer or more interesting
Organization
Need better transitions
Weak organization and/or too many repeated ideas
Depth of Development
You make lists of ideas and don’t explain them much
You write one or more ideas and try to develop them, but you don’t write from the heart about them
Voice
In some places you make the reader feel like they know you, but you don’t keep it up
Some parts are real/original, but the reader has no sense of your personality
Conventions
Many spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, usage, and sentence structure errors that make it harder for me to follow your ideas

14. What qualifies as a “3”? Focus and Coherence Most parts are focused
Clear links between ideas
Most of your writing is good quality
The introduction and conclusion add focus
Organization
Sentences and paragraphs are smoothly linked to each other
Mostly good organization
Depth of Development
Good, clear ideas; most are elaborated
Try to develop all ideas, but some are more developed than others
You seem to be afraid to take risks and write from the heart
Voice
The reader feels connected to you through most of your writing
Sounds mostly real and original
You let your personality come through
Conventions
Mostly good spelling, capitalization, punctuation, usage, grammar, and sentence structure. Your few, small mistakes don’t get in the way of your writing

15. What qualifies as a “4”? Focus and Coherence
Focused! Ideas fit together to form a while
Good intro. and conclusion
Good overall quality
Most writing, if not all, leads to the end
Organization
Sentences and paragraphs are smoothly linked to each other
Your PLAN makes your ideas clear
Depth of Development
Ideas are clear with lots of elaboration
How you tell your ideas is thoughtful/wise
You aren’t afraid to take risks, to write from your heart, to weave in your experiences
Voice
Your writing sounds real and original
The reader feels like they know you when they read your writing
Conventions
No problems with mechanics at all
You take some chances by writing at high levels, but any errors in doing this doesn’t take away from your paper

16. Before you begin… Read the prompt a couple of times
Have a plan…Brainstorm about ideas that you could use to address the prompt
Create an outline or write a draft before you put your pencil to the essay paper

17. When you’re done… PROOFREAD!!! Make any corrections
If you aren’t sure about spelling of a word, use the dictionary!!!

18. Introduction Example
While sitting alone on a stormy night bored out of my mind, I heard my phone ring from across the room. I ran over the pile of pizza boxes and empty soda cans to answer it just before it disconnected. It was my friend Jake. I should have known then that trouble was ahead.

19. Conclusion Example
Although I did not enjoy the harsh consequences, I did learn a valuable lesson through my poor choice. The pain and disappointment I caused for my parents cannot be erased, but I will strive to make them proud of me by making better decisions that show my true moral character in the future.

20. Your Assignment: Integrity
Tell of a time when your integrity (moral character, honesty) was tested. What was the situation and what was your choice? What was the outcome of your decision?
Minimum of 1.5 to 2 pages hand-written
Focus on the 3 primary components of the essay (intro, body, and conclusion), but remember that you should also proof-read for any grammatical or spelling errors.
Rough Drafts due next clas.