The Writing Test

1. The Writing Test Things we need to address!

2. consider your audience • Be sure to identify who your audience is. This will be in the writing directions. • For example, many of you chose to write to the principal. You need to keep that in mind when writing. • NOT APPROPRIATE: • You shouldn’t give us a dress code because we’re not going to do what you say. Better choice: Please consider eliminating the possibility of a dress code. ***Remember, the point of this test is to see how well you can write and argue. This isn’t the place to vent or spout off!

3. Pay attention to format • Are you instructed to write a letter? Then it must include a greeting and salutation (Dear Joe, Sincerely Mo). • Make sure to indent on EVERY paragraph. • Dear Mom, • Please send me more money. I am a loser and can’t make it on my own. I should have done more to help you. I am a bad son. • Sincerely, Loserboy

4. Proofread your paper • Pay attention to sentence structure. • BAD: We had gon 2 the sto and when we dun got to the store their was lots o things to choose from and I had dun got a snickers bc I was hungry and then I went to the pool. • I don’t think we should have a dress code, no one likes it and won’t follow it. • Who is you thinkin is gone follow yo stupid code. • I don’t think we should have a dress code because no one likes it and I like to wear spaghetti straps and my clubbing outfit so I can get a man to be my husband and then live happily ever after so I never have to work a day in my life so that’s why I need to have it so there isn’t a dress code.

5. Proofread your paper, cont. • Use proper capitalization! • Girls in particular like to capitalize random letters. PLEASE DON’T DO THIS ON THE WRITING TEST. • Ex: my friend jOsie And i like to hang out afterschool. • Ex: I like To Hang out with parker and Mosie. • ALWAYS capitalize the beginning of a sentence. I really can’t believe I have to include this in a powerpoint to 11th graders!

6. Handwriting • Don’t get cutsie. Don’t write your e’s backwards or slant certain letters/words. It makes it very hard to read and this may make your test un-scorable. • Try your hardest to use neat handwriting. If you write small, try and make it bigger for the test.

7. Grammar • PLEASE NOTE: • Theirselves is NOT a word. You would need to use themselves. Be careful of writing like you talk. You need to use a formal voice. Ex: This one time I saw a girl and I said what’s that girl doing? And she done drop her bag an her shorts was too short and she be all hoochie all over the place. Once I saw a girl and I wondered what she was doing. She dropped her bag and I noticed her shorts were far too short to wear to school.

8. Break down the topic • This is probably the biggest problem I saw with the essays. • If you don’t understand the prompt correctly then your essay will not be on target. • For example…

9. Topic, cont. • The hairstyles, clothing, and jewelry of students in today’s schools often reflect current fads and fashions that are sometimes controversial. Are dress codes necessary in today’s schools, or should students be allowed to dress as they wish? Directions for writing: write a letter to the principal in which you defend your position for or against dress codes. • Ask yourself: who am I supposed to write to? Principal • What is the issue? Whether or not the school should have a dress code. • That means…there is not currently a dress code. The principal is thinking about creating one. You need to convince him why it’s a good idea or not. • It has NOTHING to do with uniforms. It has NOTHING to do with the dress code that Glynn Academy has. Remember, these aren’t real life prompts.

10. Topics, cont. • Inventions such as the telephone, TV, cars, and computers have changed the way people live. Some people feel the changes have been for the better, while others think the changes have been for the worse. If you had the power to eliminate any invention in the world, what would it be? Directions for writing: Write a letter to one of your friends defending your viewpoint. • Ask yourself: • Who am I supposed to write to? A friend • What is the issue? If I could eliminate a WORLD-CHANGING invention, what would it be? • SO- you should pick an invention that has changed society- not something mundane like a tricycle or t-shirt. You need to explain WHY the world would be better without the invention you have chosen.

11. Supporting your opinion • It is not enough to merely give your opinion. • You MUST support your reasons. • You can do this by giving examples in the form of stories or statistics. • For example: • I don’t think we should have a dress code. No one likes the dress code and everyone knows what is acceptable to wear to school. (This needs major support) • I don’t think we should have a dress code. Students are responsible enough to understand what is appropriate for school. Student council conducted a recent survey and found that 95% of students are not in favor of a dress code and believe they understand what appropriate school dress is.

12. Introductions • Very few people had correct/good introductions. I think that most of you don’t understand what to do. • The first thing you need to do is to re-state the writing topic. Don’t assume that your reader knows what the prompt is.

13. For example • Prompt: Some students drop out of school before earning a high school diploma. There is a proposed law that would prevent high school dropouts from driving until they are 19 years old. Should high school dropouts be denied their license until they are 19 years old? Directions for writing: write a letter to your representative arguing your position.

14. Example, cont. • Example introduction (basic): Dear Representative, I understand that there is a proposed law that would keep drop outs from getting their license until they are 19. I realize that the law is designed to keep kids in school, but there are several reasons why I think it’s a bad idea.(better) Dear Representative Jones, The issue around high school dropouts is certainly an important topic which deserves much thought and conversation. In the age of technology, it is more important than ever to have a society of educated people who can man technologically-based jobs. Certainly, a high school diploma is a minimum requirement. So how can kids be kept in school? I think that in order to answer that question, one must look at the reasons students are dropping out. Many students have personal, financial, or family issues that make dropping out necessary. Therefore, to create a law that would prevent dropouts from getting their license until the age of 19 would do nothing to deter these students, rather it would prevent many of them from being able to earn a living. I believe this proposed law is off-track and doesn’t get to the root of the dropout problem.

15. Your turn • Your assignment is to write TWO introductions for the following prompts. This will count as a major writing grade. • Remember, explain the writing situation and tell your opinion/side.

16. Write introductions for these two prompts: • Many professional athletes earn millions of dollars each year while teachers, nurses, firefighters, and law enforcement officers earn much less per year. Is it fair that professional athletes earn such high salaries compared to these public servants? Why or why not? Directions for writing: Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Include reasons and evidence to support your position. 2. In recent years, pit bulls have injured or killed children and adults in the United States. A citizen action committee is launching a campaign to require all pit bulls to be registered by the county as dangerous animals. The county would also have the power to “put to sleep” any pit bull which bit a human. Would you support this law? Why or why not? Directions for writing: Write a letter to the citizen action committee in support or opposition of the proposed law. Try and convince the readers to support your point of view through reasoned argument.