Created by Developmental English Department, STCC

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An Overview of the Thea or accuplacer Writing
Test
"Success is the sum of small efforts--repeated
day in and day out."  (Robert Collier)
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Table of contents

• Part 1 Contents of TASP writing test
• Part 2 Seven characteristics of TASP writing
• Part 3 How is the test scored?
• Part 4 Example of multiple choice questions
• Part 5 Essay tips

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Part 1 Contents of TASP writing test
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The TASP writing test is composed of . . .

• Forty multiple choice questions about different
  grammatical and stylistic problems
• Also you must write a 350 to 500 word persuasive
  essay.

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Part 2 Seven Characteristics of TASP writing
test
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Seven Characteristics

• Language
• 5.Sentence structure
• 6.Usage
• 7.Mechanical conventions

• Content and Structure
• 1.Appropriateness
• 2.Unity and focus
• 3.Organization
• 4.Development

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Appropriateness

• Purpose and audience
• Appropriate style

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Unity and Focus

• Thesis statement
• Supporting points
• or reasons

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Organization

• Coherence
• a.Transition phrases
• b.Ordering of ideas

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Development

• Adequate examples
• Specific examples

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Sentence Structure

• Fragments
• Run-ons
• Subject and verb agreement
• Pronoun reference
• Faulty modification
• Faulty parallelism

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Usage

• Word choice
• Adjective, adverbs and pronouns
• Tense agreement
• Shift in person
• Misuse of negative
• Ineffective repetition

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Mechanical conventions

• Spelling
• Capitalization
• Punctuation
• Handwriting

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Part 3 How is the writing test scored?
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Essay part

• Step one Two readers score your essay. You can
  earn from 1 to 4 points,
• 1 the lowest score and 4 the highest.
• Step two The two scores are totaled.
• Step three This means you may score a total of
  from 2 to 8 points on the essay part.
• Step fourIf you score 2-3-or 4, you have failed
  the exam.
• If you score 6-7-or 8, you have passed the exam.
• Step five (if necessary) If you score a 5, the
  multiple choice part of the test will be scored.
  If you score a 220 or above, you have passed.
  200 or below you have failed.

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When writing the essay, keep in mind that . .
.

• The readers will be considering whether or not
  you have successfully met the seven
  characteristics.

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Part 4 Example of multiple choice questions
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1In addition to being one of the worlds most
vital food crops rice is used to meet a broad
range of needs. 2 The Japanese make an alcoholic
beverage called sake from it, and brewers
sometimes use it to make beer. 3 Equally
important are the plants by-products. 4In some
regions, farmers use rice bran, the brown skin
surrounding a kernel, as a livestock feed.5
Other people extract oil from the bran to make
soap and margarine. 6 Rice grains also have rough
outer shells, its hulls, that serve as an
inexpensive fuel in many places. 7 Even dried
rice stalks have their uses. 8Many Asians use
them to make hats and sandals, and to thatch the
roofs of their homes.

• 1. Which one, if any, of the following changes
  is needed in the above passage?
• A. Part 1 Change the semicolon after crops
  to a comma
• B. Part 4 Delete the comma after bran.
• C. Part 8 Change the comma after sandals to
  a colon
• D. None of these changes is needed
• 2. Which of the following parts of the passage
  displays nonstandard usage?
• A. Part 2
• B. Part 3
• C. Part 6
• D. Part 7

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Once again, keep in mind, as with the essay, .
. .

• All of the multiple choice questions, will be
  based on the seven characteristics.

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Part 5 Essay Tips
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The essay must be persuasive.

• You are trying to convince an audience, usually a
  teacher or government official, of some
  particular issue.
• You must take a position for or against. Do not
  argue for both.

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When you take the TASP writing exam, you will be
given a prompt based on which you will write your
essay. But what is a prompt?

• Prompt defined A paragraph that contains the
  information for you to write your essay.
• The prompt usually consists of four parts
• Part one The question
• Part two One side of an argument
• Part three The opposing side of an argument
• Part four Directions

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Sample Prompt

• Children killing children is all too common
  today. More often than not, a handgun is used
  as a weapon. Should guns be made illegal? Some
  people believe that we should make guns illegal
  because they feel that the number of accidental
  shootings would decrease, the streets would be
  safer, and people would be less likely to harm
  loved ones in moments of anger. Other people
  believe that making guns illegal would infringe
  on citizens rights to bear arms, leave innocent
  people no means of protecting themselves and
  their property, and allow crime to increase since
  only the criminals would find ways to get the
  guns. Write an essay of 350-500 words for an
  academic audience in which you take a position on
  the preceding issue. Support your position with
  logical arguments and appropriate examples.

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Sample Prompt broken down into parts.

• Question
• Children killing children is all too common
  today. More often than not, a handgun is the
  weapon used. Should guns be made illegal?
• Proponents
• Some people believe that we should make guns
  illegal because they feel that the number of
  accidental shootings would decrease, the streets
  would be safer, and people would be less likely
  to harm loved ones in moments of anger.
• Opponents
• Other people believe that making guns illegal
  would infringe on citizens rights to bear arms,
  leave innocent people no means of protecting
  themselves and their property, and allow crime
  to increase since only the criminals would find
  ways to get the guns.
• Directions
• Write an essay of 350-500 words for an academic
  audience in which you take a position on the
  preceding issue. Support your position with
  logical arguments and appropriate examples.

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Last words about prompt.A. Make sure you
understand the prompt before you start writing.
B. You may use the reasons provided in the
prompt in your own essay to form your argument.
C. However, do not copy sentences directly from
the prompt onto your own essay. Put the ideas
into your own words.
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The essay must be 5 paragraphs long
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Introductory paragraph

• Must be at least 50 words in length, three
  sentences
• Remember this is the most important paragraph of
  the essay
• C. You need to revise and check the paragraph at
  least 3 times

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In the introductory paragraph, you will . . .

• A. Briefly introduce topic
• B. Clearly state position
• C. State reasons

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The thesis sentence is the most important
sentence of the essay. Example . . .

• I believe smoking should be banned in all public
  parks because ____,____, and ___.

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Example of introductory paragraph . .
. Tragic, fatal newspaper headlines announce
the consequences of peoples drinking and
driving. Some people learn a valuable lesson
from their first DWI experience. However, those
individuals with second drinking offenses should
be imprisoned because these drivers are posing
life threats to themselves and others they are
the causes of extensive property damage, and
they are blatantly disregarding the law. (58
words)
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The body paragraph must be at least 6-8
sentences, or 80 words, Minimum!
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In the body paragraphs you will . . .

• A. Provide specific examples
• 1. Tell a very short, illustrative story
• 2. State facts or statistics

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Example of body paragraph . . . First of all,
many fatal accidents involving drinking and
driving are caused by the inability of the
drivers to make sound judgments. This limitation
leads to many potentially dangerous situations.
Reactions of these drivers are slower than
normal, and consequently, they are unable to
avoid accidents. Most of these accidents cause
bodily injury to the drivers as well as their
passengers. The most tragic situation occurs
when the person drinking and driving causes the
death of some innocent motorists or pedestrians.
Innocent lives are ended, and still others are
left handicapped because of drinking and driving
offenders, many of whom are repeat offenders.
(100)
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Like the introductory paragraph, the concluding
paragraph must be 4 sentences , 50 words,
Minimum!
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Example of conclusion . . . In conclusion,
individuals caught drinking and driving a second
time should be imprisoned. They have placed
themselves and others in serious danger, taken
the risk of causing extensive property damage,
and shown little respect for the law. These
drivers should suffer the serious consequences of
imprisonment. They do not deserve any more
chances.(46 )
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Some final pointers . . .

• A. The essay is the most important part of the
  writing test.
• B. So, write the essay first -- then do the
  multiple choice.
• C. After you are done with multiple choice, go
  back and revise the essay one last time.

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Things you should not do on the essay. If you do
any of these things, more than likely you will
not pass.

• Argue both for and against
• Never state your position
• Repeat yourself excessively
• Write off topic
• Copy sentences directly from prompt

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P.S., Post Script . . .

• A.Watch your handwriting!
• B.Printing is acceptable
• C.No one likes to eat on a messy table likewise,
  no one wants to read a messy essay. This could
  make the difference between passing and failing.

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Last wordsNo matter what happens,
remain CALM. If you lose your cool, you lose
everything!Good Luck!
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Assignment
Please go to the main Blackboard page and go to
the Essay assignment icon for the weeks writing
assignment. Mr g