The Writing HSPE

Two Types

• Expository: explaining or demonstrating your understanding of a topic.

• Persuasive: persuading the reader of a position or opinion you have on a topic.

Topic, Form, Audience, Purpose (T-FAP)

1. What is the Topic?

2. What should the Form of the answer be?

-Letter?–Essay? Etc.

3. Who is the Audience I am writing to?

4. What is the Purpose of the writing?

-Expository? Persuasive?

Strategy #1: Create a Checklist is important.

Read the following prompt. Can you identify the topic, form, purpose, and audience?

Next week has been named by your city as “Inventors Week.” The local newspaper has asked students’ to help with ideas for the upcoming issue. Write a multi-paragraph essay that explains what you think the best invention ever created, and why you feel this way.

Here is the Checklist

• Next week has been named by your city as “Inventors Week.” (Topic) The local newspaper (Audience) has asked students’ to help with ideas for the upcoming issue. Write a multi-paragraph essay (Form) that explains (Expository) what you think the best invention ever created, and why you feel this way.

Let us try another

• Your school district is in a budget crisis. The school board is making a decision to see if students will have to pay extra for activities such as sports, band, theater, etc. Take a position either for or against the proposal. Write a multi-paragraph letter to the Superintendent of schools persuading him or to agree with your ideas.

Did you get it correct? Here is the checklist.

• Your school district is in a budget crisis. The school board is making a decision to see if students will have to pay extra for activities such as sports, band, theater, etc. (Topic) Take a position either for or against the proposal. Write a multi-paragraph letter (Form) to the Superintendent of schools (Audience) persuading (Persuasive) him or to agree with your ideas.

Strategy #2: The Power of the Prewrite

On the writing HSPE there is space for, and you are encouraged to brainstorm!!!

Prepare a Web, Outline, Venn Diagram to help you organize your thoughts.

Strategy #3: Use the Lines to your Advantage

The HSPE, like the WASL, will scan the essay you write. Please write within the lines.

You can always add lines within the lines to add more space

Make sure your handwriting is legible!

Strategy #4: The Thesaurus and the Dictionary are my friend.

• You are allowed to use a dictionary and thesaurus to assist you on the writing portion of the HSPE.

• Embrace this option. Spelling and grammar counts and you want to ensure you put your best effort forward.

Strategy #5: Don’t take the HSPE Personally

The HSPE creates writing prompts that can answered by any teenager. Some of the prompts might irritate or annoy you.

Don’t freak out. Answer the prompt by following the checklist.

Don’t approach it as a full out assault against the “man.”

If you rant about the HSPE on the HSPE, you will be suspended!

Strategy #6: Recheck, Revise, Review

• After you have completed your writing make sure to:

• Recheck: Did you answer the prompt and fully address the topic?

• Revise: Are there any glaring spelling or grammar mistakes?

• Review: Is my handwriting neat enough to read and did I write within the lines?

Conventions Scoring

2 points follows the rules of standard English, spelling, and punctuation. It exhibits complete sentences and clear paragraphs.

1 point generally follows the rules of standard English, spelling and punctuation. Mostly uses complete sentences and paragraphs.

O point does not follow the rules of standard English, spelling and punctuation. Many errors impede the understanding of the passage.

One note about Conventions Scoring

The HSPE scorers penalize you for each mistake you make. If you consistently misspell “mistake” 50 times, you only lose points for that one error.

Content, Style, and Organization (CSO) Scoring

4 points maintains consistent focus on topic, includes relevant details, and gives a sense of a beginning, middle, and end.

3 points maintains adequate focus on topic, includes adequate details, and gives a sense of a beginning, middle, and end.

2 points maintains inconsistent focus on topic, includes some details, and attempts at having a beginning, middle, and end.

1 point maintains little or no focus on topic, includes little or no details, and gives no sense of a beginning, middle, and end.

Don’t be a Z

A Z response is stating “I Don’t Know,” just including a ?, using one word, stating just a title, or just simply recopying the prompt.

Please Stand for Think on Your Feet