California State Writing TestCalifornia State Writing TestCalifornia State Writing TestCalifornia State Writing Test

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Traits of “4” WritingTraits of “4” Writing

Clearly addresses all parts of the writing taskClearly addresses all parts of the writing task Demonstrates a clear understanding of purpose Demonstrates a clear understanding of purpose

and audienceand audience Maintains a consistent point of view, focus, and Maintains a consistent point of view, focus, and

organizational structure, including the effective organizational structure, including the effective use of transitionsuse of transitions

Includes a clearly presented central idea with all Includes a clearly presented central idea with all claims and statements supportedclaims and statements supported

Includes a variety of sentence typesIncludes a variety of sentence types Includes sophisticated vocabularyIncludes sophisticated vocabulary Contains few, if any, errorsContains few, if any, errors

The Writing ProcessThe Writing Process

1.1. Pre-write – gather ideas, plan and Pre-write – gather ideas, plan and organize essayorganize essay

2.2. Draft – write your essay using your pre-Draft – write your essay using your pre-writingwriting

3.3. Proofread – fix any grammatical errorsProofread – fix any grammatical errors4.4. Revise – make sure everything “sounds Revise – make sure everything “sounds

right”; insert sophisticated vocabulary right”; insert sophisticated vocabulary and figurative language, check for and figurative language, check for sentence variety sentence variety

NarrativeNarrative

Sample PromptsSample Prompts Imagine that your mom woke you up with the Imagine that your mom woke you up with the

following news: “School has been canceled for following news: “School has been canceled for the day! You can do anything you want!” Write the day! You can do anything you want!” Write a story about an adventure you had on your a story about an adventure you had on your school-free day. (Fictional Narrative)school-free day. (Fictional Narrative)

As much as we may love our friends, we As much as we may love our friends, we sometimes find ourselves very angry with them. sometimes find ourselves very angry with them. Write a story about a time when you had a Write a story about a time when you had a conflict with a close friend. (Autobiographical conflict with a close friend. (Autobiographical Narrative)Narrative)

NarrativeNarrative

You will be scored on how well you:You will be scored on how well you: tell a story about a fictional or autobiographical tell a story about a fictional or autobiographical

event;event; develop a plot with a beginning; middle, and develop a plot with a beginning; middle, and

end;end; develop a setting and characters; anddevelop a setting and characters; and use appropriate strategies such as suspense, use appropriate strategies such as suspense,

action, descriptive detail, and, perhaps, dialogue action, descriptive detail, and, perhaps, dialogue to make your story more interesting.to make your story more interesting.

NarrativeNarrativePre-write

climax

rising action

falling action

exposition resolution

characters

conflict

setting

Title _________________________________________________________

Persuasive EssayPersuasive Essay

Sample PromptSample Prompt Most private schools require students to wear Most private schools require students to wear

uniforms. Should public school students wear uniforms. Should public school students wear uniforms too? Write a letter to your principal in uniforms too? Write a letter to your principal in which you argue for or against school uniforms which you argue for or against school uniforms for public school students. Give convincing for public school students. Give convincing reasons that support your opinion and address reasons that support your opinion and address the concerns of those who would argue against the concerns of those who would argue against your position. Explain your reasons with specific your position. Explain your reasons with specific details.details.


Your writing will be scored on how well you: Your writing will be scored on how well you: state your position of the topic;state your position of the topic; describe the points in support of your describe the points in support of your

position, including examples and other position, including examples and other evidence;evidence;

anticipate and address readers’ concerns anticipate and address readers’ concerns and arguments against your position; andand arguments against your position; and

use grammar, spelling, punctuation, and use grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.capitalization.


Strongest SupportStrongest Support More SupportMore Support

ThesisThesis

CounterargumentCounterargument ConclusionConclusion

Pre-write


How do I do it?How do I do it?

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)Paragraph 1 (Introduction) Hook the reader with an exclamation, question, Hook the reader with an exclamation, question,

shocking fact or statistic, anecdote, etc.shocking fact or statistic, anecdote, etc. Give background information on your topic.Give background information on your topic. State your thesis (position) – this is what you will State your thesis (position) – this is what you will

be convincing your reader.be convincing your reader.


Paragraph 2 (Strongest Support)Paragraph 2 (Strongest Support) Start with a topic sentence that gives a reason Start with a topic sentence that gives a reason

for your position. It should be persuasive!for your position. It should be persuasive! Explain your reason with at least three details Explain your reason with at least three details

elaborating with examples. Your details and elaborating with examples. Your details and examples should support your thesis.examples should support your thesis.

End the paragraph with a concluding sentence End the paragraph with a concluding sentence that restates your reason in a different way.that restates your reason in a different way.


Paragraph 3 (More Support)Paragraph 3 (More Support) Start with a topic sentence that gives another Start with a topic sentence that gives another

reason for your position. It should be reason for your position. It should be persuasive!persuasive!

Explain your reason with at least three details Explain your reason with at least three details elaborating with examples. Your details and elaborating with examples. Your details and examples should support your thesis.examples should support your thesis.

End the paragraph with a concluding sentence End the paragraph with a concluding sentence that restates your reason in a different way.that restates your reason in a different way.


Paragraph 4 (Counterargument)Paragraph 4 (Counterargument) This is where you anticipate what the other This is where you anticipate what the other

side may feel (who disagrees with you).side may feel (who disagrees with you). Some may feel that…however…Some may feel that…however… Convince the reader that the other side is Convince the reader that the other side is

wrong with at least three reasons that wrong with at least three reasons that support your argument.support your argument.

End the paragraph with a concluding End the paragraph with a concluding sentence.sentence.


Paragraph 5 (Conclusion)Paragraph 5 (Conclusion) Restate your thesis.Restate your thesis. Summarize the main points of your Summarize the main points of your

argument.argument. End in a way to make your reader think.End in a way to make your reader think.

Response to LiteratureResponse to Literature

Sample PromptSample Prompt Read the following story. Write an essay Read the following story. Write an essay

in which you present your understanding in which you present your understanding of the characters and the overall meaning of the characters and the overall meaning of the story. Support your ideas with of the story. Support your ideas with examples and/or evidence from the text.examples and/or evidence from the text.


Your writing will be scored on how well you write Your writing will be scored on how well you write an essay that: an essay that:

shows your understanding of the author’s shows your understanding of the author’s message and your insight into the characters message and your insight into the characters and ideas presented in the story;and ideas presented in the story;

is organized around several clear ideas and/or is organized around several clear ideas and/or images from the story; and images from the story; and

justifies your interpretation by giving examples justifies your interpretation by giving examples and citing evidence from the text.and citing evidence from the text.


Title & AuthorTitle & Author

CharacterCharacter

SettingSetting

ConflictConflict

Quotes to Support ThemeQuotes to Support Theme

ThesisThesis

Central Image/IdeaCentral Image/Idea Evaluation/ConnectionEvaluation/Connection

Pre-write



Introduction (1 paragraph)Introduction (1 paragraph) Begin with the title and the author of the selection you Begin with the title and the author of the selection you

read.read. Follow with a brief summary. The summary should only Follow with a brief summary. The summary should only

include the exposition – characters, setting, and conflict. include the exposition – characters, setting, and conflict. Do not tell what happened in the entire story, just the Do not tell what happened in the entire story, just the beginning.beginning.

End the paragraph with your thesis statement. In a End the paragraph with your thesis statement. In a response to literature, the thesis statement would be response to literature, the thesis statement would be what you believe to be the theme, or the overall what you believe to be the theme, or the overall meaning/message, of the selection.meaning/message, of the selection.


Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs Explain the theme using evidence from the text. You Explain the theme using evidence from the text. You

can also use quotes. This is the “meat” of your essay. can also use quotes. This is the “meat” of your essay. Don’t just summarize; relate everything back to the Don’t just summarize; relate everything back to the theme. Include your interpretations and insights. theme. Include your interpretations and insights.


Conclusion (1 paragraph)Conclusion (1 paragraph) Evaluate the theme. Make a connection between the Evaluate the theme. Make a connection between the

theme and the real world to end the essay.theme and the real world to end the essay.

SummarySummary

Sample PromptSample Prompt Read the following informational article. Read the following informational article.

After reading the article, write a summary After reading the article, write a summary of what you have read.of what you have read.

SummarySummary

Your writing will be scored on how well you: Your writing will be scored on how well you: state the main idea of the article;state the main idea of the article; identify the most important details that identify the most important details that

support the main ideas;support the main ideas; write your summary in your own words, write your summary in your own words,

except for quotations; andexcept for quotations; and express the underlying meaning or the express the underlying meaning or the

article, not just the superficial details.article, not just the superficial details.

SummarySummary


Read the article once first.Read the article once first. Go back through the article and pick out the Go back through the article and pick out the

main points.main points. Begin the summary with a sentence something Begin the summary with a sentence something

like this: like this: In the article “Name of Article,” the In the article “Name of Article,” the author states…author states…

Rewrite the main points in your own words.Rewrite the main points in your own words. Remember, a summary should be shorter than Remember, a summary should be shorter than

the original article.the original article.

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California State Writing TestCalifornia State Writing TestCalifornia State Writing TestCalifornia State Writing Test