GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION WRITING TESTGRADUATION WRITING TEST

September 25, 2013September 25, 2013

Format of TestFormat of Test

You will have 100 minutes to compete the testYou will have 100 minutes to compete the test

Writing must be Writing must be persuasivepersuasive..– The The purposepurpose of this writing is to convince others to of this writing is to convince others to

accept the writer’s position as valid, to adopt a accept the writer’s position as valid, to adopt a certain point of view, or to take some action.certain point of view, or to take some action.

– The The methodsmethods used in this writing are details that used in this writing are details that appeal to the reader’s emotions and logic, facts, appeal to the reader’s emotions and logic, facts, statistics, narrative anecdotes, humor, and/or the statistics, narrative anecdotes, humor, and/or the writer’s personal experience and knowledge.writer’s personal experience and knowledge.

Sample Question (Prompt)Sample Question (Prompt)

The prompt contains two sections—the Writing The prompt contains two sections—the Writing Situation and the Directions for Writing.Situation and the Directions for Writing.

Writing SituationWriting Situation

Many public school systems across the country require students to wear Many public school systems across the country require students to wear uniforms. Some educators believe that wearing uniforms will help students uniforms. Some educators believe that wearing uniforms will help students concentrate more on their school work. On the other hand, some students concentrate more on their school work. On the other hand, some students argue that having to wear uniforms prevents them from expressing their argue that having to wear uniforms prevents them from expressing their individuality. Your principal is considering whether students at your school individuality. Your principal is considering whether students at your school should wear uniforms.should wear uniforms.

Directions for writingDirections for writing

Write a letter to your principal expressing your view on school uniforms. Write a letter to your principal expressing your view on school uniforms. Provide convincing reasons and specific examples to support your position.Provide convincing reasons and specific examples to support your position.

Figuring Out the QuestionFiguring Out the Question

Writing SituationWriting Situation

Many public school systems across the country require students to wear Many public school systems across the country require students to wear uniforms. Some educators believe that wearing uniforms will help students uniforms. Some educators believe that wearing uniforms will help students concentrate more on their school work. On the other hand, some students concentrate more on their school work. On the other hand, some students argue that having to wear uniforms prevents them from expressing their argue that having to wear uniforms prevents them from expressing their individuality. Your principal is considering whether students at your school individuality. Your principal is considering whether students at your school should wear uniforms.should wear uniforms.

Directions for writingDirections for writing

Write a letter to your principal expressing your view on school uniforms. Write a letter to your principal expressing your view on school uniforms. Provide convincing reasons and specific examples to support your position.Provide convincing reasons and specific examples to support your position.

• About what am I choosing a side?

• In what format do I write my essay?

• Who is my audience?

How will my essay be scored?How will my essay be scored?

IDEAS: 40%IDEAS: 40%

ORGANIZATION: 20%ORGANIZATION: 20%

STYLE: 20%STYLE: 20%

CONVENTIONS: 20%CONVENTIONS: 20%

How will my essay be scored?How will my essay be scored?

• The total weighted raw scores range from 10 (1’s in all four domains) to 50 (5’s in all four domains).

•  The total score is then converted to a three-digit scaled score. There are three performance levels represented: Does Not Meet (100-199), Meets (200-249), and Exceeds (250+).

Domain 1: IdeasDomain 1: Ideas

To receive a score of To receive a score of 55, you must demonstrate:, you must demonstrate:– Full focus on assigned topic and persuasive Full focus on assigned topic and persuasive

purposepurpose– A fully developed A fully developed controlling ideacontrolling idea that establishes that establishes

the validity of your positionthe validity of your position– Supporting ideas and elaboration that are Supporting ideas and elaboration that are relevantrelevant

to your argument and audienceto your argument and audience– Use of logical examples, details, and evidence Use of logical examples, details, and evidence

(facts, expert opinions, quotations, or commonly (facts, expert opinions, quotations, or commonly accepted beliefs)accepted beliefs)

– Use of emotional appeal, personal experiences, Use of emotional appeal, personal experiences, analogy/comparisons, and logical reasoninganalogy/comparisons, and logical reasoning

Example of Depth of Example of Depth of Development in a ParagraphDevelopment in a Paragraph

I am against required school uniforms (intro. paragraph)

Uniforms keep us from expressing our individuality. I like to express myself and my interests through my choice of clothes. But If I looked like 1,000 other people, how could I be expressive or original? No teenager likes being told what to wear every day. I have some friends who attend schools where they have to wear uniforms. None of them ever say they like the uniforms. They are all unhappy because their individuality is stifled. I do not want to be that frustrated with my clothing.

Controlling Idea

Supporting Idea

Major Detail

Specific Detail

Major Detail

Specific Details

Closing statement

Domain 2: OrganizationDomain 2: Organization

To receive a score of To receive a score of 55, you must demonstrate:, you must demonstrate:– An organizing strategy that is appropriate to your An organizing strategy that is appropriate to your

argumentargument– Logical and appropriate sequencing of ideas within Logical and appropriate sequencing of ideas within

paragraphsparagraphs– An introduction that engages readers and sets the An introduction that engages readers and sets the

stage for your topic and persuasive purpose (call to stage for your topic and persuasive purpose (call to action)action)

– Effective transitional words, phrases, and Effective transitional words, phrases, and sentencessentences

Domain 3: StyleDomain 3: Style

To receive a score of To receive a score of 55, you must demonstrate:, you must demonstrate:– Carefully crafted phrases and sentences that Carefully crafted phrases and sentences that

maintain an appropriate tone for your purpose and maintain an appropriate tone for your purpose and your audienceyour audience

– Varied and precise languageVaried and precise language– Appropriate word choiceAppropriate word choice– Appropriate figurative or technical languageAppropriate figurative or technical language– Strong, authoritative voice throughout paperStrong, authoritative voice throughout paper– Variety of sentence structure (simple, compound, Variety of sentence structure (simple, compound,

complex, compound-complex sentences)complex, compound-complex sentences)

Domain 4: ConventionsDomain 4: Conventions

To receive a score of To receive a score of 55, you must demonstrate:, you must demonstrate:– Correct use of simple, compound, complex, and Correct use of simple, compound, complex, and

compound-complex sentencescompound-complex sentences– Consistent clarity of meaning, even in complex Consistent clarity of meaning, even in complex

sentencessentences– Variety of subordination and coordination strategies Variety of subordination and coordination strategies

(Combining appropriate ideas that relate to one (Combining appropriate ideas that relate to one another in sentences)another in sentences)

– Correct usage of pronouns, s-v agreement, spelling, Correct usage of pronouns, s-v agreement, spelling, paragraph indentation, etc.paragraph indentation, etc.

– Infrequent, if any, errorsInfrequent, if any, errors

How will my final score be How will my final score be determined?determined?

Your final score is Your final score is cumulativecumulative, which means , which means that your number of points earned in each of that your number of points earned in each of the four individual domains will be added the four individual domains will be added together to determine your overall, total score.together to determine your overall, total score.

What does this mean?What does this mean?– If you score really high, maybe a 7 or 8, in one If you score really high, maybe a 7 or 8, in one

section, it will make up for a low score, like a 2 or 3, section, it will make up for a low score, like a 2 or 3, in another section.in another section.

Final Thoughts to RememberFinal Thoughts to RememberAn effective persuasive essay …

•clearly establishes a position on the issue & fully develops an argument with examples and details

•defends the your position with appropriate evidence and CALLS PEOPLE TO ACTION

•demonstrates that the writer can COUNTER ARGUE the audience’s opposing position

•includes appeals to logic & emotion

•is organized

•uses precise language that contributes to an appropriate voice coming from the writer

•contains a short narrative in the introduction that supports your position

An effective persuasive essay is NOT…

•formulaic writing (“Three reasons I support this are ___, ___, and ___.”)

•A list of inappropriate ideas and examples that are “off topic” from your position

•Writing that FAILS to COUNTER ARGUE the reader’s position on the issue

•Only 1-2 paragraphs

•Writing that presents ideas and information in a confusing order

•Writing that does not fully develop ideas

•Writing that does not address the topic in a persuasive manner

All information taken from:All information taken from:

http://www.doe.k12.ga.ushttp://www.doe.k12.ga.us