1. FSA Writing Boot Camp—Agenda 2/21
Day 1
9:30-10:00—What to Expect on Test Day
10:00-10:30
Grade 6-10 Informative/Explanatory Text Based Writing Rubric
Do’s and Don’ts of Informative/Explanatory Writing
10:30-10:40—Break
10:40-11:40
Grade 6-10 Argumentation Text- based Writing Rubric
Do’s and Don’ts of Argumentative Writing
11:40-11:50—Break
11:50-12:30—Peer Review/Scoring of Sample Argumentative Prompts

2. What to Expect on Test Day
You will have 120 minutes to read two to four passages, plan, write, revise, and edit your response. 
9th ( words for the reading passages)
10th ( words for the reading passages)
You will read the passages on the computer, and you will type your response.
You could receive an argumentative prompt (most likely) or an informative/explanatory prompt.
You will use evidence from the passages to support your response.
Brace yourself! The FSA is coming!

3. What to Expect on Test Day
Possible Topics for Prompts and Reading Passages:
Essential Skills
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Health and Physical Education
Business Management and Administration
Social Studies
World Languages
Arts
Interests

4. What to Expect on Test Day

5. Informative/Explanatory Prompt
The purpose of an informative/explanatory essay, sometimes called an expository essay, is to educate on a certain topic. It is not for giving an opinion or convincing someone to do something or change his beliefs.
You will read two to four passages that have a clear topical connection but may address diverse concepts and ideas.
You will be required to synthesize and analyze ideas from the passages and support a controlling idea.

6. Informative/Explanatory Prompt Guidelines
Write an informational/explanatory essay about. . .Your essay must be based on ideas and information that can be found in the “. . .” passage set.
Manage your time carefully so that you can:
read the passages;
plan your response;
write your response; and
revise and edit your response.
Type your response in the space provided.
You have 120 minutes to read, plan, write, revise and edit your response.

7. Informative/Explanatory Rubric
Score
Purpose, Focus, and Organization 4
The response is fully sustained and consistently focused within the purpose, audience, and task; and it has a clear controlling idea and effective organizational structure creating coherence and completeness. The response includes most of the following:
Strongly maintained controlling idea with little or no loosely related material
Skillful use of a variety of transitional strategies to clarify the relationships between and among ideas.
Logical progression of ideas from beginning to end with a satisfying introduction and conclusion.
Appropriate style and objective tone established and maintained.

8. Purpose, Focus, and Organization—Informative/Explanatory Rubric
fully sustained response: continuing for an extended period or without interruption.
controlling idea: a controlling idea is the same as a "thesis statement“ (concise summary of the main point of the essay) of an essay. It's called a "controlling idea“ because this opening statement should "control" the rest of your writing.
effective organizational structure:
Description--The author describes a topic by listing characteristics, features, and examples. 
Sequence or process—The author lists items or events in numerical or chronological order.
Compare/Contrast—The author discusses the similarities or differences between two or more things.
Cause/Effect—The author focuses on the relationship between two or more events or experiences. The essay could discuss both causes and effects, or it could simply address one or the other.
Problem/Solution—The author states a problem and lists one or more solutions for the problem

9. Purpose, Focus, and Organization—Informative/Explanatory Rubric
variety of transitional strategies: transitions enhance logical organization and understandability and improve the connections between thoughts. They indicate relations, whether within a sentence or a paragraph.
satisfying introduction and conclusion: The author makes the reader want to continue reading the essay and provides closure to the essay.
appropriate style: Use an academic voice. A wide range of vocabulary is important, but you must use the right word, and shorter ones are often better than longer ones. Try to avoid everyday, informal language, especially slang.
objective tone: the essay should read as though the author hasn't let emotion influence the writing. Writers accomplish this level of objectivity by supporting all aspects of the thesis with evidence from the passages.
Save the drama for your mama, soldier! Use an objective tone!

10. Informative/Explanatory Rubric
Score
Evidence and Elaboration 4
The response provides thorough and convincing support, citing evidence for the controlling idea or main idea that includes the effective use of sources, facts, and details. The response includes most of the following:
Smoothly integrated, thorough, and relevant evidence, including precise references to sources
Effective use of a variety of elaborative techniques (including but not limited to definitions, quotations, and examples), demonstrating an understanding of the topic and text
Clear and effective expression of ideas, using precise language
Academic and domain-specific vocabulary clearly appropriate for the audience and purpose
Varied sentence structure, demonstrating language facility

11. Informative/Explanatory Rubric
Evidence and Elaboration
smoothly integrated evidence: no quote dumps!
elaborative techniques: techniques used to add details or expand
domain-specific vocabulary: content specific vocabulary. Examples would include words such as isotope, peninsula, refinery. Words common in informational text.
varied sentence structure: a.k.a. syntax—the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
language facility: your sentence structure illustrates your writing skills.
Chin up, soldier. Everybody quote dumps.

12. Informative/Explanatory Rubric
Score
Conventions of Standard English 2
The response demonstrates an adequate command of basic conventions. The response may include the following:
Some minor errors in usage but no patterns of errors.
Adequate use of punctuation, capitalization, sentence formation, and spelling

14. Chocolate IS better than Vanilla!
Argumentative Prompt
The argumentative essay requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.
You will read two to four passages that present opposing points of view. Each point of view will be equally represented so that you can take either side or position.
You will be required to support your claim with evidence from the passages.
Chocolate IS better than Vanilla!
Where’s your PROOF, boy!

15. Argumentative Prompt Guidelines
Write an argumentative essay in which you. . .Use the information from the texts in your essay.
Manage your time carefully so that you can:
read the passages;
plan your response;
write your response; and
revise and edit your response.
Be sure to
Include a claim;
Address counterclaims;
Use evidence from multiple sources; and
Avoid overly relying on one source.
Type your response in the space provided.
You have 120 minutes to read, plan, write, revise and edit your response.

16. Purpose, Focus, and Organization
Argumentation Rubric
Score
Purpose, Focus, and Organization 4
The response is fully sustained and consistently focused within the purpose, audience, and task; and it has a clear and effective organizational structure creating coherence and completeness. The response includes most of the following:
Strongly maintained claim with little or no loosely related material
Clearly addressed alternate or opposing claims
Skillful use of a variety of transitional strategies to clarify the relationships between and among ideas.
Logical progression of ideas from beginning to end with a satisfying introduction and conclusion.
Appropriate style and objective tone established and maintained.

17. Purpose, Focus, and Organization—Argumentation Rubric
fully sustained response: continuing for an extended period or without interruption.
strongly maintained claim: a position statement that asserts an idea or makes an argument for a specific position.
clearly addressed alternate or opposing counterclaims: a position taken by someone with an opposing viewpoint.
effective organizational structure
Introduction
A. Hook
B. Bridge—info that connects the hook and the claim
C. Claim
Counterclaims
Claim
Present point A
Support point A
Present point B
Support point B
Conclusion

18. Purpose, Focus, and Organization—Argumentation Rubric
variety of transitional strategies: transitions enhance logical organization and understandability and improve the connections between thoughts. They indicate relations, whether within a sentence or a paragraph.
satisfying introduction and conclusion: The author makes the reader want to continue reading the essay and provides closure to the essay.
appropriate style: Use an academic voice. A wide range of vocabulary is important, but you must use the right word, and shorter ones are often better than longer ones. Try to avoid everyday, informal language, especially slang.
objective tone: the essay should read as though the author hasn't let emotion influence the writing. Writers accomplish this level of objectivity by supporting all aspects of the thesis with evidence from the passages.
I’ll whip your weak essay into shape! Drop and give me 20!

19. Evidence and Elaboration
Argumentation Rubric
Score
Evidence and Elaboration 4
The response provides thorough and convincing support, citing evidence for the writer’s claim that includes the effective use of sources, facts, and details. The response includes most of the following:
Smoothly integrated, thorough, and relevant evidence, including precise references to sources
Effective use of a variety of elaborative techniques (including but not limited to definitions, quotations, and examples), demonstrating an understanding of the topic and text
Clear and effective expression of ideas, using precise language
Academic and domain-specific vocabulary clearly appropriate for the audience and purpose
Varied sentence structure, demonstrating language facility

20. Argumentation Rubric smoothly integrated evidence: no quote dumps!
Evidence and Elaboration
smoothly integrated evidence: no quote dumps!
elaborative techniques: techniques used to add details or expand
domain-specific vocabulary: content specific vocabulary. Examples would include words such as isotope, peninsula, refinery. Words common in informational text.
varied sentence structure: a.k.a. syntax—the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
language facility: your sentence structure illustrates your writing skills.
I don’t know, but I’ve been told.
You’ve got the language facility
of a two-year old!

21. Conventions of Standard English
Argumentation Rubric
Score
Conventions of Standard English 2
The response demonstrates an adequate command of basic conventions. The response may include the following:
Some minor errors in usage but no patterns of errors.
Adequate use of punctuation, capitalization, sentence formation, and spelling

24. Or when Writing Boot Camp is finished!