1. Get Out of Town… With a great ACT writing score

2. What to Include Your position on the issue Your position on the issue A strong thesis that outlines the main arguments of your essay A strong thesis that outlines the main arguments of your essay Recognition of opposing arguments Recognition of opposing arguments Transitions – see Vol. 1 p. 223 Transitions – see Vol. 1 p. 223 Clinchers Clinchers Supporting evidence/well-developed explanation of points Supporting evidence/well-developed explanation of points Consistent third-person pronouns (no I or you, etc.) Consistent third-person pronouns (no I or you, etc.) Sentence Variation Sentence Variation

3. Hints and Tips Prewrite – Plan your essay –Use your experiences as examples. Refresh your memory about: *Favorite books *School subjects *Historical events, *Personal experiences **Familiarize yourself with current events

4. More Hints and Tips State a CLEAR perspective on the issueANSWER THE QUESTION and ONLY the question State a CLEAR perspective on the issueANSWER THE QUESTION and ONLY the question You must work quickly – You have 30 minutes for prewriting, writing and editing You must work quickly – You have 30 minutes for prewriting, writing and editing Write neatly – Appearances count Write neatly – Appearances count Don’t skip lines and use a pencil EDIT, EDIT, EDIT – Leave yourself at LEAST two minutes to proofread your work. EDIT, EDIT, EDIT – Leave yourself at LEAST two minutes to proofread your work.

5. Even MORE Hints and Tips Organization and clarity are KEY to an above average essay (4,5,6) If your reader doesn’t understand your train of thought- you won’t do well. Testmakers LOVE specific examples and the more concrete your examples are the more they clarify your thinking and keep you focused.

6. In some countries, upon graduating from or leaving high school, young people are required to perform 24 months of compulsory service. A choice is offered between military service and an alternative, community service. Some people think universal compulsory service is a good idea because young people learn valuable lessons from the experience. Other people think that such a required service engenders resentment so that no important civic lesson is learned. In your opinion, should all young people be required to participate in some form of universal compulsory service? In some countries, upon graduating from or leaving high school, young people are required to perform 24 months of compulsory service. A choice is offered between military service and an alternative, community service. Some people think universal compulsory service is a good idea because young people learn valuable lessons from the experience. Other people think that such a required service engenders resentment so that no important civic lesson is learned. In your opinion, should all young people be required to participate in some form of universal compulsory service?

7. Sample Essay (Score = 4) Look for Look for Position on issue Position on issue Thesis Thesis Clear Intro, Body and Conclusion Clear Intro, Body and Conclusion Recognition of opposing viewpoints Recognition of opposing viewpoints Well-developed explanations Well-developed explanations Transitions Transitions Clinchers Clinchers Consistent Third Person Point of View Sample Essay 4 Sample Essay 4

8. Sample Essay (Score = 5) Look for Look for Position on issue Position on issue Thesis Thesis Recognition of opposing viewpoints Recognition of opposing viewpoints Well-developed explanations – moves from general idea to specific example Well-developed explanations – moves from general idea to specific example Transitions Transitions Clinchers Clinchers Consistent Third Person Point of View Sentence Variation Sentence Variation Sample Essay 5 Sample Essay 5

9. Sample Essay (Score = 6) Look for Look for Position on issue Thesis Thesis Recognition of opposing viewpoints Recognition of opposing viewpoints Well-developed explanations – moves from general idea to specific example Well-developed explanations – moves from general idea to specific example Transitions Transitions Clinchers Clinchers Consistent Third Person Point of View Sentence Variation Sentence Variation Sophisticated Word Choice Sophisticated Word Choice Sample Essay 6 Sample Essay 6 EDIT, EDIT, EDIT – Leave yourself at LEAST two minutes to proofread your work.

10. Read pages Vol. 1 p.219 – 227 for hints and tips on essay writing Read pages Vol. 1 p.219 – 227 for hints and tips on essay writing In Volume 2 look at the sample writing prompts on pages 380, 436, 496, and 556 In Volume 2 look at the sample writing prompts on pages 380, 436, 496, and 556

11. Sample Essay (Score = 1) Well I don't think they should have a dress code because, it takes away from the kids. We shouldn't be mindless drones. I thought this is America were you can exspece yourselfs. The government should stay out of it. Next they will be telling us what we should eat and think. I think if they look good they should be able to where what they want to. If they start control how we dress. Next, they will control everything. I for one want to think and dress for myself. If we let them tell us what to do slowly our freedoms will reduced to noting. Well I don't think they should have a dress code because, it takes away from the kids. We shouldn't be mindless drones. I thought this is America were you can exspece yourselfs. The government should stay out of it. Next they will be telling us what we should eat and think. I think if they look good they should be able to where what they want to. If they start control how we dress. Next, they will control everything. I for one want to think and dress for myself. If we let them tell us what to do slowly our freedoms will reduced to noting.

12. Sample Essay (Score = 2) I agree with parents and teachers who say dress codes is needed. Dress codes sets guidelines for what students wear and helps the learning environment. Uniforms encourage equality. They sets guidelines for what students wear so everyone looks the same. Uniforms encourage people to be equal by setting what all students wear at school. Uniforms helps stop rivalry between groups and "clicks." Uniforms put an end to groups at school because everyone looks the same. If everyone looks the same than groups won't divide people by how they look because uniforms makes everyone equal. All students would be the same if they wear uniforms. These is just a few of the many benefits to wearing a uniform. A dress code is only one way of creating a good school environment, but it is a good one.

13. Sample Essay (Score = 3) Look for Look for Position on issue Position on issue Thesis Thesis Clear Intro, Body, Conclusion Clear Intro, Body, Conclusion Recognition of opposing viewpoints Well-developed explanations TransitionsClinchers Consistent Third Person Point of View Sample Essay 3 Sample Essay 3