1 / 18

ACT: Writing Test

ACT: Writing Test. 1 Prompt 30 Minutes. Design of the Prompt. Two-Sided (“take a stand”) Variety of support based on your personal experience. Current issue, usually connected to education. Tests writing skills and your THINKING!!!. Scoring. Graded by two people on a scale of 1-6.

kasimir-sullivan
Download Presentation

ACT: Writing Test

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. ACT: Writing Test 1 Prompt 30 Minutes

  2. Design of the Prompt • Two-Sided (“take a stand”) • Variety of support based on your personal experience. • Current issue, usually connected to education. • Tests writing skills and your THINKING!!!

  3. Scoring • Graded by two people on a scale of 1-6. • 1 = little to no skill responding to task • 2 = inconsistent or weak • 3 = some developing skill • 4 = adequate skill • 5 = competent skill • 6 = effective skill • Scores added together to create a score of 2-12.

  4. “Effective Skill” • Understands task and takes a position • Critical context for discussion • Addresses different perspectives • Elaboration is ample, specific and logical • Organized • Effective intro and conclusion • Good command of language • Varied sentences

  5. Raw Score to Scale Score • Your Writing Score is combined with your English Score. You'll receive a Writing subscore and a Combined English/Writing score. This is created by using a formula that weights the English Test score two-thirds and the Writing Test score one-third. The Combined English/Writing score is then reported on a 1–36 scale.

  6. Examples of Combined Scores Examples: Scale Raw English Raw Writing 36 36 12 30 31 10 25 26 8 20 22 6

  7. Dissect a Prompt • Prompt = Overview + Task • Attack the prompt • Underline tasks or questions to answer • Brainstorm answers • Choose the “easy” answer • Create a brief web or outline • Choose an order • Organize pieces into the order you will write them • Develop your thesis.

  8. Complex Thesis • Use your AWUBIS words! • Address the opposing view, then explain your position. • Example: While schools have traditionally used “whole class” texts to teach English, allowing students to “self-select” the books they read could improve each student’s ability to read and to learn.

  9. Introducing the Essay • Connect to the Issue: Anecdote! • Give an Overview of the Issue • Thesis • Draw from your personal experience!!! (See next slide!)

  10. Can I use “I”? • Yes, but limit it. • If you start with a personal anecdote, it’s okay to talk about yourself. However, ACT graders want to see your awareness of the “big picture” and how the issue will affect a larger group of people, not just yourself. Use words like “students”, “others”, “teenagers”, “young adults”, “citizens” to label the affected group of people.

  11. Write an Introduction • Starting your Intro: • Avoid the “rhetorical question” • Try an anecdote or experience! • Overview • Use the prompt for assistance; explain what is happening with this issue. • Thesis • Start with an AWUBIS word

  12. How will you prove your thesis? • Supporting Arguments to the Thesis/Claim • Logical Reasoning • Evidence (use what you know) • Awareness of Complexity (counter argument and rebuttal) • Try to build to your strongest argument. (That’s why it’s important to plan ahead!)

  13. Write the Body of Your Essay: ICEE! • I- Introduce your supporting argument…provide background about it. • Logical Reasoning – the arguments have to make sense from an “adult” standpoint. Avoid emotion and whining! • C- Cite Evidence – Examples (not quotes)! Again, use your experience or what you see and hear around you. Have you experienced the issue? Have you heard it discussed by peers, teachers, parents, the media? Have you read about the issue? • Explain and Elaborate – Show how the examples prove your thesis/claim. Acknowledge the other side. You can do this briefly several times throughout the essay.

  14. Transitions 1: within paragraphs • Transitions for flow: • Power Point of transitions(on-line)! • Specific transition words or phrases • Examples: furthermore, additionally, while this may be true, consequently, moreover, to illustrate, indisputably, etc. • Incorporate WITHIN paragraphs. Avoid using these transitions to start paragraphs.

  15. Transitions 2: between paragraphs • Phrases or sentences that connect to the information in a text, but help move ideas along. • Example: As self-selected reading helps a student gain confidence, it will also help students learn more about the world. • This transitions between paragraphs, reviewing the previous paragraph’s idea and moving to the next paragraph’s idea.

  16. Counter Argument/Rebuttal • In a paragraph of its own…that works. • Better option: use several throughout the essay! • You could use this in your introduction! • Incorporating several shows you understand the complexity of the issue.

  17. Conclusions….hmmm…Tricky! • Do not repeat anything! • Instead, answer the big questions in your conclusion: • What if actual change were to take place in your favor: • What would be the end result? • How could it affect people in the long run? • How could it affect the world!?! • What is not happening now that would happen if the change took place? • Vice-Versa

  18. Review • Dissect the Prompt and make a PLAN! • Introduce- Connection, Overview, COMPLEX Thesis • Support the Thesis- ICEE! • Continually Address the Other Side • Transition Effectively • Conclude with new, big “what if” ideas.

More Related