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PSSA Writing Test

Why is this important?. In the 11th grade, you must demonstrate proficiency in writing in order to graduate.If you score Basic or Below Basic on the 11th grade PSSA Writing test, you will be required to submit a PSSA Portfolio for graduation.Grades 5 and 8 are checkpoints to ensure that you are ma

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PSSA Writing Test

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    1. PSSA Writing Test February 9th-20th, 2009

    2. Why is this important? In the 11th grade, you must demonstrate proficiency in writing in order to graduate. If you score Basic or Below Basic on the 11th grade PSSA Writing test, you will be required to submit a PSSA Portfolio for graduation. Grades 5 and 8 are checkpoints to ensure that you are making progress toward the final 11th grade goal.

    3. What will the test be like? In grade 8 there are: 20 Multiple Choice questions for editing and revision 3 writing prompts

    4. Multiple Choice Section 5 Short passages with errors Each passage is followed by 4 multiple choice questions (20 MC questions). Questions will focus on revising and editing the passages. Answers are a part of your conventions score.

    5. Prompts 8th graders will respond in writing to 3 prompts. These are “on demand” writing tasks; that means you do not read a passage before you write. The only thing you have to rely on for your answer is the knowledge you already have – prior knowledge.

    6. What will I be asked to do? Write in 2 different modes Show that you are proficient in all 5 domains of writing

    7. What is a mode of writing? Mode means type, style, or genre. There are many modes of writing such as narrative, poetic, informational, and persuasive. Only persuasive and informational modes will be tested in grades 8 and 11. No narrative.

    8. What types of writing assignments are in the persuasive mode? Position Paper Evaluation Opinion Essay Editorial Problem-Solution Persuasive Essay

    9. What types of writing assignments are in the informational mode? Compare/Contrast Essay Descriptive Essay Narrative Procedure (Instructions or “How To”) Expository Essays Report of Information Research Paper News story

    10. Let’s Play Guess the Mode… Hints: An informational prompt will ask for an explanation, clarification, evaluation, comparison, instructions, description, or definition. A persuasive prompt will ask you to take a side, convince, persuade, support an opinion, defend, argue, or refute.

    11. Informational or Persuasive? A new principal is contacting all students about changing or adding to the school rules. Think of a rule you would like to change or add. Write to convince your principal to use your suggestion.

    12. Informational or Persuasive? You are the class president and have been asked to write an introduction for a person you admire greatly. Write an essay describing the most admirable qualities of the person.

    13. Informational or Persuasive? Many areas have laws that require motorcycle and bicycle riders to wear helmets. Do these laws conflict with your right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?” Take a position for or against these laws and write an essay supporting your view.

    14. Informational or Persuasive? “Great thoughts speak only to a thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all humankind.” —Emily P. Bissell How do “great actions speak to all humankind”? Write an essay that explains your understanding of this quotation.

    15. Informational or Persuasive? A teacher needs directions from the school to your home. Write a set of instructions that describes the route you take.

    16. Informational or Persuasive? Think about discoveries or inventions that have affected our lives. Select one. Write to inform someone about this discovery or invention. Tell whether it has been good or bad for society.

    17. Helpful Hints When taking the test, first decide what mode is being asked for. Do they want me to inform? Do they want me to persuade?

    18. Informational If they want you to inform, figure out what type of information they want. Narrative Procedure/Instructive/“How to” Descriptive Compare/Contrast Expository

    19. If It’s “How to” Think: Tell what you’re teaching and why. Materials needed (if any) Steps with good transitions Anticipate problems a reader may have.

    20. If It’s Descriptive Think: Imagery or Word Picture Characteristics/Qualities Adjectives Sensory details

    21. If It’s Expository Think: Make a point /Answer the question Back it up with Details Examples Explanation Anecdote – a short, real life example Facts – if you’ve got them

    22. If It’s Compare/Contrast Think: Venn Diagram Organization Point by point, Topic by topic, OR like then different

    23. If It’s Persuasive Think: Take a strong position -one position even if you see both sides! No wishy-washies. Back it up with logical reasons and any facts that you may have. Use persuasive techniques like rhetorical questions, repetition, and ideas that will appeal to your audience. Recognize and refute (reasonably) one counter argument that your opposition might have.

    24. How Will My Test Be Scored? The 2009 PSSA uses a different rubric for each mode of writing. The rubrics identify the most important qualities of the mode. These qualities are broken down into 4 areas or domains: focus, content, organization, and style. The 5th domain, conventions, is scored with a separate rubric. The writing rubrics we use in communications class are set up in a similar way so that you’re used to this kind of evaluation.

    25. You focus your writing when you: answer the prompt and make your point. stick to your point from start to finish. write to your audience in a style and tone that match the mode (persuasive, informational).

    26. Your content is strong when you include: examples explanations elaboration evidence details reasons facts anecdotes connections to support your point and help your reader understand what you’re saying.

    27. You show strong organization when you arrange your ideas in a helpful way, such as: most to least important reasons least to most important reasons similarities then differences topic by topic chronological order (first to last)

    29. You get style points for: using high level, appropriate vocabulary. using a variety of sentence styles (simple, compound, complex). creating a strong tone that suits the mode (persuasive, expert/informational). writing in a way that would reach your target audience.

    30. For a high conventions score you must have: correct spelling. complete sentences. correct end punctuation. correct internal punctuation (commas, semicolons). correct capitalization. logical paragraphing with topic sentences.

    31. Your Score Your test will receive 2 scores: 1 for conventions grammar, etc. 1 for composition how well you write in the modes

    32. Scoring Your Test Conventions The multiple choice section is worth 12 points. Also, each of your compositions will get a conventions score of 1-4 for a possible 8 points total. The multiple choice score and 2 writing conventions scores are added together. 12+8= 20 possible

    33. Composition Each of the 2 writing tasks is worth a possible 4 points. Your 2 scores are totaled and multiplied by 10. (One prompt isn’t counted, but you won’t know which one that is, so try your best on all three.) That’s 80 points possible for “composition” – the focus, content, organization and style domains. Scoring Your Test

    34. Total Score Conventions = possible 20 points Composition = possible 80 points Total possible 100 points

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