Writing Proficiency Overview

1
Writing Proficiency Overview

• Writing for Proficiency

2
Format and Scoring

• Students must write two essays on two topics
• Topic A (usually expository)
• Topic B (usually persuasive)
• The essays are scored holistically (given an
  overall score).
• Each essay is scored on a 1 to 6 scale.
• Students must earn a combined score of 7 to pass.

3
Types of Essays

• Expository
• Students have to explain something
• how to do something
• comparison-contrast
• problem-solution
• cause-effect
• An old saying states there is beauty in
  simplicity. Discuss important steps you can take
  to simplify your life.

4
Types of Essays

• Persuasive
• Students must take a position and defend it.
• Essays must include a claim or opinion
• Essays must include support or evidence for claim
• Its not what you know, but who you know that
  counts. Argue for or against this statement.
  Provide reasons for your point of view.

5
Types of Essays

• Write E if the prompt is expository and P if the
  prompt is persuasive
• As a senior, you have much more experience
  operating in high school. Explain to an incoming
  freshman what it takes to be successful in high
  school.
• Some countries require that all men and women
  provide two years of military service to their
  country before they reach the age of 25. Argue
  for or against this requirement.

6
Types of Essays

• 3. Some schools in the United States require that
  students volunteer for several hours each
  semester to help provide service to the
  community. Do you think that students should be
  required to volunteer to help in the community?
  Write an essay explaining your position.
• 4. Our society has many problems. Identify one of
  these problems that you believe is the most
  important. Explain the problem, and suggest a
  possible solution to it.
• 5. If you were given the opportunity to spend two
  hours each week working on a community task of
  your choice, explain where you would volunteer
  and why, what you would accomplish, and how it
  would benefit your environment.

7
Types of Essays

1. E (how to)
2. P
3. P
4. E (problem-solution)
5. E (cause-effect)

8
Scoring

• Each essay is scored from 1 to 6.
• Two scorers score each essay and the scores are
  averaged.
• The average scores for the two essays are
  combined to create a total score.
• In order for a student to pass, the total score
  much be a 7 or higher.
• Read the scores for Pete and Pam. Use the
  scorers scores for each essay to determine
  whether or not they passed the test.

9
Scoring

• Pete
• Topic A? 4 and 4 ? average 4
• Topic B ? 4 and 3 ? average 3.5
• Total 7.5 ? PASS
• Pam
• Topic A? 3 and 4 ? average 3.5
• Topic B ? 3 and 3 ? average 3
• Total 6.5 ? FAIL

10
Writing Traits

• Ideas
• Ideas are the main message and purpose
• Ideas should be focused and developed
• Details should be relevant and include examples,
  observations, and information
• Ideas should be interesting and clearly relate to
  the topic

11
Writing Traits

• Organization
• Organization is the manner in which the ideas are
  arranged
• A well-organized essay has an inviting
  introduction, developed body with relevant
  details, and a satisfying conclusion.
• A well-organized uses thoughtful transitions to
  relate and connect ideas.
• The organization of the essay should match the
  purpose (cause-effect, problem-solution,
  chronological order, etc.)

12
Writing Traits

• Voice
• Voice refers to the way that the writer expresses
  himself or herself.
• Voice shows personality and commitment to the
  topic.
• The essay should sound natural and authentic.
• Voice includes word choice
• specific vocabulary
• lively words

13
Writing Traits

• Conventions
• Conventions mechanical correctness
• Correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation,
  grammar/usage, and paragraphing
• Errors should not interfere with meaning
• Conventions includes sentence fluency
• Essays should include a variety of sentences
  (simple, compound, and complex).
• Sentences should be combined correctly.

14
Writing Traits

• For each scenario, identify the problem as being
  related to I (ideas), O (organization), V
  (voice), or C (conventions)
• Petes complete lack of punctuation makes it
  difficult for the reader to understand where
  sentences and ideas end.
• Pam does not include enough reasons and details
  to support her opinion.
• Pete sounds like a robot. His essay is dry,
  boring, and has no personality.
• Pete has great details, but there is no clear
  beginning or end to his essay.
• Some of the details that Pam includes dont seem
  to fit the topic.

15
Writing Traits

• C
• I
• V
• O
• O

16
Score This!

• Essay 1

17
Score This!

• Essay 1 (Score 4)
• Focused with some details
• Discusses teachers who waste students time with
  crossword puzzles
• Could include more details and explanations--How
  would having a better environment with teachers
  who like their jobs help students perform better
  on tests?
• Some structure
• Vague introduction
• No conclusion
• Clear voice
• The reader can sense the students frustration
  with teachers who dont teach.
• Conventions are mostly okay
• Some run-ons

18
Score This!

• Essay 2

19
Score This!

• Essay 2 (Score 3)
• Ideas are focused but not developed
• Some ideas conflict (Pressure is bad in the U.S.,
  but good in other countries?)
• There are not examples or observations to support
  what the writer is saying.
• Essay is organized in that it has an
  introduction, three body paragraphs, and
  conclusion.
• Each paragraph is only one sentence (lack of
  ideas).
• Conventions are okay (except for some spelling
  errors).
• Writer uses a variety of sentence structures.

20
Score This!

• Essay 3 (Score 2)
• Essay 4 (Score 5)

21
(No Transcript)