1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.