Passing the Georgia High School Writing Test Ms. D’Lee Pollock EMLA Department, Bryan County High School Fall 2010

Juniors: This year, you will take 5 graduation tests (Writing, ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies), unless the guidance office tells you otherwise. You MUST pass or exempt all five of these exams to graduate. The first graduation test is in writing; the others are administered in the spring. The writing graduation test is September 28 th !

Test Administration On September 28 th at the beginning of first block, you will report to your testing site assigned by the guidance office. You will receive a topic sheet, a planning sheet, drafting paper, and a test booklet on which to write your final draft. Only the final draft is graded, but you are strongly encouraged to go through the full writing process. You will have 100 minutes to complete the whole test. You will have to self-monitor how much you spend on each step of the writing process. The writing topic will require you to construct a well- developed persuasive essay.

Assessment: Your final draft will be graded based on: – Ideas (Content) which counts twice. – Organization (Structure) – Style (Word choice, sentence variety, sentence arrangement) – Conventions (Grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction)

Basic Tips for Passing the Writing Test: Write a full two pages. Use NORMAL-sized handwriting. The state only gives you two pages to write your final draft on, and you must have a full final draft. Write legibly! If they cannot read it, they cannot grade it. You do not have to write in cursive, but your final draft does have to be in blue or black ink pen. Use paragraphs! Paragraphs should have 5-6 developed sentences. If you don’t know for sure how to spell a word, use a synonym. Use a correct persuasive writing structure! Use the writing process: plan, draft, edit, revise, draft again! Do NOT say that both sides are correct or that the topic is unimportant. Both of these are automatic failures!

The easiest way to make sure that you pass the writing test is to use one of the following persuasive writing structures. This will increase your organization and ideas score!

Structure Option 1 For Students with Writing Disabilities or For Students who Struggle with Writing: Paragraph 1: Introduction (with hook, transitional sentence, and thesis statement) Paragraph 2: Reason 1 (supported by two types of evidence) Paragraph 3: Reason 2 (supported by two types of evidence) Paragraph 4: Conclusion (using SAM – summarize, appeal to emotions or logic, make a plan)

Structure Option 2 For General Ed Students / Most Students: Paragraph 1: Introduction (with hook, transitional sentence, and thesis statement) Paragraph 2: Reason 1 (supported by two types of evidence) Paragraph 3: Reason 2 (supported by two types of evidence) Paragraph 4: Counterargument (prove exactly why the other side is wrong or prove their bias) Paragraph 5: Conclusion (using SAM – summarize, appeal to emotions or logic, make a plan)

Structure Option 3 For AP Students / Students Seeking to Exceed: Paragraph 1: Introduction (with hook, transitional sentence, and thesis statement) Paragraph 2: Reason 1 (supported by two types of evidence) Paragraph 3: Reason 2 (supported by two types of evidence) Paragraph 4: Counterargument (prove exactly why the other side is wrong or prove their bias) Paragraph 5: Antithesis (explain to your audience what you’re not arguing about) Paragraph 6: Conclusion (using SAM – summarize, appeal to emotions or logic, make a plan)

Mastering Structure

Introduction Your introduction should be 5-6 sentences. It should be written as one paragraph. It should have three essential elements: Hook, Transitional Sentence, Thesis Statement. Use one of the five hooks to start your essay: give a fact or figure, tell a story, define a term, quote someone, or ask questions. Your transitional sentence should link the hook and thesis. Your thesis should show that you agree, disagree, agree under certain conditions, or disagree under certain conditions. Do not agree with both sides or state that the topic is unimportant! Do not list all of your reasons in the thesis statement.

Reason Paragraphs Each reason paragraph should be 5-6 sentences. You should have at least two fully developed reason paragraphs. Each reason paragraph should begin with a topic sentence arguing a reason that supports your thesis. Then, you need to prove that reason using at least two types of evidence. Finally, add a concluding sentence that emphasizes the ideas in the paragraph or transitions to the next paragraph. Types of evidence to include: analogies, facts, common knowledge, logical reasoning, case study, stories / personal anecdotes, appeals to emotion, rhetorical questions, expert opinions, quotes…

Counterargument If you are confused by the counterargument, don’t attempt it! Your counterargument should be 5-6 sentences. It should be written as one paragraph. You should first admit or identify one or more issues that “the other side” would argue against you. Then, you will prove those specific issues or claims wrong or prove the other side’s bias. Never ever admit that the other side is right or that you agree with them!

Conclusion Your introduction should be 5-6 sentences. It should be written as one paragraph. Do not say “In Conclusion” or “The End.” It should have two effective conclusion techniques. Remember SAM: – Summarize. – Appeal to emotions or logic. – Make a plan.

Reminders: Your test is September 28 th ! If you need help, come to the 300 hall after school! Your English teachers are here, and we will help you!