The Extended Response LOOK AT THE MAIN TOPIC—that is what you will be using for your idea. The other questions are guidelines for brainstorming. DO: remember that this test is not timed. You do not need to rush through when developing and writing a response. DO: Develop a response that relates to the main question. DO: Make sure you have enough info to have an opening paragraph, 3 supporting body paragraphs, and a closing paragraph. REMEMBER: At your level, paragraphs are four to six sentences long! DON’T: Try to answer every question. It will sound choppy if you have not carefully linked your thoughts.

Drafting an Extended Response Use specific words. Use a dictionary or thesaurus. Use active voice in verbs. Introduction: lead, focus, and thesis Body: 3-4 paragraphs with relevant details Conclusion: restate thesis, focus, leave reader with specific action or thought to ponder Develop coherence by planning an order, using transitions, and repeating key words and phrases in a controlled way. Be aware of connotations and denotations of words by looking up the words in a dictionary or thesaurus. Avoid clichés and sweeping generalizations by using specific language.

Revising the Extended Response Did you provide the reader with enough information to understand? The fewer, the better—effective words carry more weight. Keep person and tense consistent. Parallel structure should match—verbs with verbs, nouns with nouns, adj. with adj., prep. phrases with prep phrases Vary sentence structure—simple, compound, complex, occasional questions or exclamations

Proofing the Extended Response Capitalize: first words in sentences, proper nouns, words in titles, and I. Punctuate: commas, semi-colons, colons, apostrophes, and question marks. Correct usage: nouns, pronouns, articles, adj/adv, negative words, verbs, and subject verb agreement. Check your spelling! Avoid: fragments, run-ons and misplaced or dangling modifiers.

Descriptive Writing: Creating an Experience for the Reader Sight: color, appearance, shape, size, actions for scenery and characters Touch: sensations, texture, temperature, weight, density Sound: volume, tone, pitch, and character qualities Smell: variety of smells and odors, both pleasant and unpleasant Taste: temperatures, textures, smells, flavors of food, etc. identified in passage

Narrative Writing: Telling a Story Brainstorm experiences Establish point of view– 1st or 3rd—and stay consistent Organize the order—chronological is best Include setting, characters, plot (conflict, climax, resolution), suspense. Remember: you are a character in your writing if it is a personal experience. Check for the 5 W’s Who? = characters Where? = setting When? = setting What happened? = plot Why? = purpose

Expository Writing: Informing or Explaining a topic Basic: Tip = 5 W’s and H (how?) Process: explain “how to” do or make something or explain how something works. Use clear steps in a logical sequence with transitions for each step. Tip= use a flow chart Cause—Effect: relationships between one event or idea and another event or idea. Cause = reason Effect = result Tip = use a flow chart Compare/ Contrast: similarities or differences between two things Tip= Use Venn diagram

Persuasive writing: Convincing the Reader to agree with you Use a formal or “professional” tone. Use persuasive words and phrases Avoid slang, colloquial expressions, and inappropriate language. Avoid faulty reasoning, weak evidence, or illogical arguments Remember M-S-A Make a claim Support the claim Answer objections Ethical arguments: assumptions about right vs. wrong Good arguments: logical reasoning, solid evidence, personal story or good examples, occasional emotional appeals, weakness of opposing argument

Scoring the Extended Response Your response must be well organized, clearly structured with an introduction, body, and conclusion, flow smoothly from idea to idea, support the main idea of the response and of each paragraph. Strong responses explain reasons, give examples, illustrate points, and provide strong support. Varying the use of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences attracts and maintains the reader’s attention. Effective words and sentence construction conveys strong voice as you present ideas and feelings. Punctuation, capitalization, spelling, subject-verb agreement, run-ons, and fragments are limited and do not detract from the piece.