Nevada State Writing Proficiency

Review & Reflection

Analyze The Task

• Read the task and identify the most important information. Highlight or underline critical information and instructions.

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PracticeRead the excerpt titled “Video Games”. Write a multi-paragraph argumentative essay (approximately 2,000 characters with spaces) in which you state and defend a position about the positive or negative impacts of video games on young people. Support your position using textual evidence and logical reasoning from the article as well as your own personal experiences or knowledge. Be sure to acknowledge and refute opposing claims.

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ExampleRead the excerpt titled “Video Games”. Write a multi-paragraph argumentative essay (approximately 2,000 characters with spaces) in which you state and defend a position about the positive or negative impacts of video games on young people. Support your position using textual evidence and logical reasoning from the article as well as your own personal experiences or knowledge. Be sure to acknowledge and refute opposing claims.

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Review Rubric Before & After Writing

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FOUR: EXCEEDS STANDARDThis paper exceeds grade level standards and is above average. It exhibits All OR MOST of the following characteristics:•Crafts ideas in a detailed, sustained, and insightful manner•Creates a compelling argument using convincing evidence; acknowledges and distinguishes counterclaims (argument items only)•Organizes ideas coherently and deliberately to strengthen or highlight purpose•Demonstrates a purposeful control of language that invites and engages the audience; maintains a formal styleManipulates Standard English grammar/usage, mechanics, and varied sentence patterns to enhance stylistic effect

Review Rubric Before & After Writing

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THREE: MEETS STANDARDThis paper meets grade level standards and is adequate. It exhibits ALL OR MOST of the following characteristics: •Focuses and develops ideas with clear, relevant, and sufficient details, information, explanations, reasons, and/or examples appropriate to text type•Argues to support claims using relevant evidence; acknowledges opposing claims (argument items only)•Organizes ideas clearly and logically with an introduction, varied transitions, and conclusion appropriate to text type •Uses precise words, phrases, and clauses appropriate to audience and purpose; maintains a formal style •Demonstrates command of Standard English grammar/usage and mechanics; uses varied sentence patterns for meaning, interest, and style

Responding To TextSay it, Support it, Explain it!!!

• SAY (State) your answer to the question in the thesis statement using key words from the question.

• SUPPORT your opening statement with details and examples from the text.

• EXPLAIN how your details and examples from the text reinforce your answer to the question.

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Use Dictionaries

• Look up any words that you are unsure of from the passage.• Remember Alphabetical Order

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Plagiarism

• DO NOT Plagiarize the text• If plagiarized, you will receive a 0!!!• Use quotation marks “ “ to cite the text

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Essay Structure

IntroductionLead/HookThesis Statement

BodyTextual SupportLogical ReasoningExplanation

ConclusionRestate ThesisWrap-up Essay

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Thesis Statement

states the main idea of the essay in a complete sentence, not in a question.

states an opinion or attitude on a topic. It doesn’t just state the topic, itself.

is usually at the end of an introduction.

often lists subtopics.

Topic + Position/Opinion = Thesis

does not directly announce your main topic

Body ParagraphsThe Sandwich Model

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Use Transitions

• According to ,

• To begin,• To continue,• Furthermore,• In addition,• Additionally,• Hence,

• Thus,• Similarly,• In contrast,• As a result,• To conclude,• To wrap up,• In conclusion,

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Use Varied Sentence Structure

SimpleCompoundComplex

Compound/Complex

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Revise

• Review rubric and revise as necessary• Shorten if needed to include a

conclusion• Be sure that you did not plagiarize

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Edit

• Flex your P.E.C.S.• Use dictionaries to edit spelling• Edit for comma usage• Re-read before submitting to edit for

typos

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Self-Reflection

Now, review your mock task and score. On a separate piece of paper, write down your score. Then, write a paragraph explaining why you received the score you did. Be sure to include specific examples. Write a second paragraph explaining what you could do to make your essay better. Be sure to include specific details.

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Look at the introductory paragraph below. See

if you can identify the thesis statement andsubpoints.

When I was young, I always knew that I wanted to become a teacher someday. When I played, I would often gather my dolls together and pretend to teach them how to do math problems or how to read a book. As I grew older, my desire to become an ESL teacher became clearer as I did some volunteer teaching overseas and in the United States. As I look back on my reasons for becoming a teacher, there are three reasons that stand out. They are: my love for the English language, my innate interest in how people learn, and my desire to help other people.The thesis statement contains the main idea that controls the content of the essay.

Subpoints in the thesis or nearby help the reader know how the essay will be organized

Thesis StatementThesis StatementComplete Sentence

The sport of cross-country running.

Why do I want to be a teacher?

The sport of cross-country running has allowed me to get in better shape and meet some interesting people.

Being a teacher is a great profession, because it allows me to work with students and be creative.

This is a question, not a statement.

Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement

Thesis StatementThesis StatementStates an Opinion or Attitude

I learned to play many musical instruments when I was young.

This would not be considered a good thesis statement because it is only expressing a fact. It doesn’t give the writer’s opinion or attitude on playing musical instruments. This thesis statement doesn’t give the writer very much to explain or prove in his/her essay.

Learning to play many musical instruments when I was young helped me to become a more intelligent and well-rounded person.

This thesis statement is much better because it expresses how the writer feels about the experience of learning to play musical instruments. This thesis statement requires the writer to explain how and why playing a musical instrument made him/her a better person.

Thesis StatementThesis StatementLocation

For most of my life I have lived with bad health, smelly clothes, and a chronic cough. My children and husband begged me to stop the habit that caused these conditions, but I couldn’t. The habit of smoking had wrapped its addicting arms around me and was slowly strangling me until one day I realized I had to stop. This realization came after three terrifying events occurred in my family.

The thesis statement comes at the end of the introductory paragraph. This sentence tells the reader that he/she can expect to read about the events that caused the author to stop smoking in the rest of the essay.

Thesis StatementThesis StatementSubtopics

The large influx of people to California has had major effects on the state.

No subtopics are named in this thesis statement.

The large influx of people to California has had major effects on the ability of the state to provide housing, electricity, and jobs for all residents.

This statement names three subtopics. Can you find all of the subtopics?

subtopic #1 subtopic #3

Thesis StatementThesis StatementDon’t State the Obvious

In this essay, I am going to discuss the effects of long-term drug abuse.

Long-term drug use can have disastrous effects on one’s marriage, career, and health.