1. On-Demand Testing
Prep Guide

2. On-Demand Your last CATS test!!!
Test of your ability to write for a purpose.
Each prompt will require you to write a specific type of piece (form) for a specific type of purpose (task)

3. Test Days Two days of testing
Each day, you receive 2 prompts. Choose one.
One day will be a text-based prompt: read a piece of text, then use the text to write your response

4. Passage-Based Prompt Explain the question
Give background
Define who is interested in the question
Use information from the passage
Passage provides details & depth
Incorporate key facts into your response
Don’t assume the reader has read the same passage
Don’t say, “In the article it said…,” etc.

5. 60-Minute Test You have 60 minutes to respond to the prompt Good plan:
10 minutes plan & prewrite
35 minutes write
15 minutes proofread & revise

6. 3 Tasks
Narrate an event for a purpose
Persuade
Inform

7. Four Forms
Letter
Article
Editorial
Speech

8. The Tasks

9. Tasks
Narrate
Persuade
Inform

10. Narrate Essential concept: “narrate an event for a purpose”
Narration supports an idea, opinion, conclusion, interpretation, request, etc.
Narration is a way of convincing readers to accept your idea, opinion, etc.
Your story (narrative) should “prove” what you want readers to think. (EX: You believe everyone should take a financial literacy class. Your story about being in big-time credit card debt shows the need for such classes.)

11. Narrate Appropriate forms: Prompt phrases that suggest a narrative:
Speech
Letter
Article
Prompt phrases that suggest a narrative:
“Tell about a time…”
“Refer to your own experience…”
“From your own experience, relate an incident that…”

12. Persuade
Your goal is to convince readers to take some action or accept the writer’s idea, request, conclusion, recommendation, etc.
You want to persuade readers
Be aware of the audience
Write in language that audience can relate to
Use examples audience will relate to

13. Persuade Appropriate forms:
Editorial
Speech
Letter (such as Letter to the Editor)
Prompt phrases that indicate a persuasive piece:
“Convince readers to…”
“Write to help others accept your opinion about…”
“Urge readers to…”

14. Inform
Write to…
Present information and provide explanation that can help readers understand something relevant to students’ lives and experiences (e.g., issue, problem, need, event)
Accomplish a task/procedure, achieve a goal, solve a problem, etc.
Information is not enough; explanation (idea development) is needed
Reveal your thinking & your ability to communicate effectively with readers.
Provide explanation, information, and other support
Show your ability to communicate effectively with readers, not merely repeat information you’ve have learned

15. Inform Appropriate forms:
Article
Speech
Prompt phrases that suggest informative piece:
“Help readers understand that…”
“Share your knowledge…”
“Provide information that will…” •

16. The Forms

17. Types of Forms
Letter
Editorial
Speech
Article

18. Choose the Right Form Letter Editorial Speech Article
Addresses a specific individual for a specific purpose
Editorial
Statement of opinion to be read by a group
Speech
Address to a group of people, usually connected by a common interest
Article
Conveys info to large number of people
Informs & entertains

19. The Article Lead Body Conclusion Goal: capture the reader’s attention
Introduce article’s “hook”—its specific focus on the topic (audience’s interests/needs)
Body
Logical organization
Group info under subheads
Conclusion
Satisfying end
Often reconnects to the beginning
Wraps up the discussion

20. The Article - 2 General points: Nonfiction & factual
Clarifies/Interprets complex issues by giving depth & meaning
Includes specific detail
Appropriate tone/voice
Doesn’t state writer’s opinion, but viewpoint is often evident in the hook

21. Editorial Beginning Body Conclusion Capture reader’s attention
Preview editorial’s intent (persuade)
Body
Address issue & offers rationale
Point-by-point organization
Suggest solutions
Answer questions; acknowledge opposition
Conclusion
Restate opinion & rationales

22. Editorial - 2 General points: Concise, coherent writing
Expresses opinion clearly
Specific details support writer’s opinioin, answer readers’ questions
Anticipates audience point-of-view
Avoids “I” statements (I believe, I think, in my opinion, it seems to me)
Maintains polite, courteous tone

23. Letter Structure Beginning Body Ending
Date, return address, recipient’s address, salutation to start
Closing & signature to end
Beginning
Summarize purpose of letter
Body
Describe issue & propose solutions in orderly manner
Use specific detail to support purpose
Ending
Restate purpose
Request action (as necessary)

24. Letter – 2 General points: Writing is concise, coherent
Express purpose (opinion, request) clearly
Use specific details to support purpose
Anticipate recipient’s POV & concerns
Be courteous, polite

25. Speech Beginning Body Conclusion Break ice Introduce topic
Introduce you & your expertise
Body
Organize carefully to meet purpose
Build on logic & reason
Appeal to emotions & psychology to gain support
Conclusion
Restate purpose/viewpoint to gain support

26. Speech - 2 General points: Build commonality with audience
Personal experiences
Anticipate audience reaction
Acknowledge & respond to opposing arguments
Rhetorical devices add interest, enhance message (alliteration, repetition, parallelism, etc.)

27. What You’re Judged On Text & language features of the form
Well-organized idea development
Purpose, purpose, purpose
Information that clarifies/justifies purpose
Ideas the communicate purpose
Explanation & support that help readers’ understand purpose
Support
Facts, examples, reasons, anecdotes, chart, etc.
Effective conclusions

28. Testing Points
Answers must be written on the lines printed in the test booklet
Do Not write outside the black box that outlines the test book pages
Write legibly. Writing too lightly, too small or too large makes writing hard to decipher.
Dictionaries & thesauri will be available
Review writing process cards provided with test

29. Sample Prompts

30. Practice Time
Read the prompt & plan how you would write your response. Do some form of prewrite to get ready to write.