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Writing Test Preparation. Your Writing CRT is February 24, 2010!. Ideas and Content. Your content (what you write about) is the area that is graded with the most weight on your Writing CRT. Your idea should be fresh and original. It should come from your own experience if at all possible.
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Writing Test Preparation Your Writing CRT is February 24, 2010!
Ideas and Content Your content (what you write about) is the area that is graded with the most weight on your Writing CRT. • Your idea should be fresh and original. • It should come from your own experience if at all possible. • You should include vivid sensory details to enrich the reader’s understanding of your experience. • It should hold the reader’s attention the whole way through.
Organization Organization is the second highest area of importance in your Writing CRT. • Your essay needs a strong beginning that grabs the reader’s attention. • Your essay should have a structure that makes sense with your subject. • Make sure you use strong details in the right places. • Your ending should neatly sum up your essay and leave the reader with a sense of closure.
Types of Organization • Chronological • Spatial • Persuasive • Compare/Contrast • Block • Point by Point
Chronological Tell the events in the order that they occurred. This doesn’t rule out using a flashback. Possible tool to organize: timeline
Spatial This means describing something from one part of the item to the next, to the next. For example, you could be asked to describe a car. You would start at the front bumper, the headlights, the hood, the front tires, etc., ending with the rear bumper.
Persuasive In a persuasive paper you might want to build to a dramatic point. For example, if you are talking about the dangers of speeding, you could start with your least dramatic point and build to your most dramatic. Or you could do the opposite and start with the most dramatic. Your assertion, or thesis statement, is made early on and all your examples support it. I. Introduction II. Speeding causes higher mortality rates. III. Speeding causes increased gasoline consumption. IV. Speeding causes increased pollution. V. Conclusion
Compare/Contrast Block Arrangement (four paragraphs) I. Introduction in which you state your purpose which is to discuss the differences between vacationing in the mountains or at the beach II. Mountain A. Climate B. Types of Activities C. Location III. Beach A. Climate B. Types of Activities C. Location IV. Conclusion
Compare/Contrast Point-by-Point or Alternating Arrangement (five paragraphs) I. Introduction in which you state your purpose which is to discuss differences between vacationing in the mountains or at the beach II. First difference between mountains and beaches is climate A. Mountains B. Beach III. Second difference between mountains and beaches are types of activities A. Mountains B. Beach IV. Third difference between mountains and beaches is the location A. Mountains B. Beach V. Conclusion
Essay Topic -- What kind of organization? • What is your favorite place in the world? • Tell about a time you were injured. • Describe your favorite food. • Choose a recipe and explain the process of making that item. • How is the short story “Flowers for Algernon” different from and similar to the movie version? • Describe a time you stood up for someone else. • What is your definition of a hero? Describe someone who you think is a hero.
Powerful beginnings It is incredibly important to write an interesting and attention-grabbing lead sentence. Learn at least three techniques for beginning an essay in a powerful way and use one of them to start your Writing CRT essay.
Some ideas for good beginnings… Figurative language Personification: The pencil sharpener was always hungry. Onomatopoeia: Grumbling and muttering, my mother picked up the shards of glass on the floor. Simile: The road was as slick as glass, and we picked up no traction as we careened towards the brick wall. Quote/Dialogue “Who are you and what have you done with Samuel?” the coach hollered. Surprising statement Have a minute? Good. Because that may be all it takes to save the life of a child—your child. Describe something very specifically. The white face mask of his football helmet obscured most of his face, but I could see the sweat drip down his reddening skin. His brown eyes narrowed as he stared at me, poised to attack, and I knew I was going to die.