CAHSEE Test CAHSEE Test Prep:Prep:

Things to consider Things to consider

for the for the EssayEssay PortionPortion

You will be expected to You will be expected to write write one one essay on essay on one of the following one of the following types of writing:types of writing:

Biographical NarrativeBiographical Narrative

you write about someone you write about someone else.else.

Describe the person and their Describe the person and their character traits.character traits.

Response to LiteratureResponse to Literature

you read a text (story, poem, you read a text (story, poem, etc.) and analyze/examine etc.) and analyze/examine the text.the text.

Expository EssayExpository Essayyou explain, you explain,

give info, or give info, or clarify an clarify an idea. (ex. idea. (ex. Research Research Paper)Paper)

Persuasive EssayPersuasive Essay you take a position/stand on an you take a position/stand on an

issue Include the counter-issue Include the counter-arguments (opposing sides)arguments (opposing sides)

Organize your essay with the Organize your essay with the strongest point first. strongest point first.

Include facts, personal stories, Include facts, personal stories, and statistics to help with your and statistics to help with your argument. argument.

Business LetterBusiness Letter

your purpose may be to inform, your purpose may be to inform, to suggest, to complain, to to suggest, to complain, to argue, to persuade, or to argue, to persuade, or to commend. commend.

Keep your letter short and to Keep your letter short and to the point. the point.

Keep in mind the SIX Elements Keep in mind the SIX Elements (Dear Mr. Smith: and Sincerely, )(Dear Mr. Smith: and Sincerely, )

What are the What are the types of essays types of essays that you may be that you may be asked to write asked to write

about?about?

OrganizationOrganization Write 4-5 paragraphs and make sure Write 4-5 paragraphs and make sure

that you include the following:that you include the following:– Intro. (Hook, Background Info, Thesis)Intro. (Hook, Background Info, Thesis)– 2-3 Body Paragraphs (Topic Sentence, 2-3 Body Paragraphs (Topic Sentence,

Example, Explain, Concluding Sent.)Example, Explain, Concluding Sent.)– Conclusion (Restate Thesis, Summarize Conclusion (Restate Thesis, Summarize

the Body Paragraphs)the Body Paragraphs)

Grammar, Spelling, Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation!!!Punctuation!!!

– Spell everything outSpell everything out/No slang (cuz, /No slang (cuz, &, ur, bc, etc.)&, ur, bc, etc.)

– No contractionsNo contractions (can’t, won’t, (can’t, won’t, doesn’t, shouldn’t, it’s etc.)doesn’t, shouldn’t, it’s etc.)

– No Run-on-sentencesNo Run-on-sentences (continuous (continuous sentences with no breaks [. , ]) sentences with no breaks [. , ])

– No Sentence FragmentsNo Sentence Fragments (missing (missing subject or verb)subject or verb)

– Capitalize, periodsCapitalize, periods!!

FormatFormat Margins!!!Margins!!! Indent when needed (at the Indent when needed (at the

beginning of a paragraph)beginning of a paragraph) Write NEAT and CLEAR!!! If it is Write NEAT and CLEAR!!! If it is

not legible, you will receive a not legible, you will receive a “ZERO”“ZERO”

Go back and proofread your Go back and proofread your essay!essay!

Lastly,…Lastly,…Make sure that you Make sure that you answer the prompt!!!answer the prompt!!!

Start with a DO-WHAT Chart!Start with a DO-WHAT Chart!

What is one What is one thing you need thing you need to consider to consider when writing when writing your essay? your essay? (grammar, format, or (grammar, format, or organization)organization)

How do you tackle the How do you tackle the prompt?prompt?

Begin by Begin by breaking down the breaking down the promptprompt with a Do-What Chart: with a Do-What Chart:

DODO WHATWHAT

Essay PromptEssay Prompt Imagine that you come back to school Imagine that you come back to school

and the principal announces that this and the principal announces that this year all students must wear uniforms. year all students must wear uniforms.

WriteWrite a a persuasive essaypersuasive essay statingstating whether whether or not the students at your school or not the students at your school should be required to wear uniforms to should be required to wear uniforms to schoolschool. . GiveGive at at least three reasonsleast three reasons to to supportsupport your positionyour position as well as as well as detailed explanationsdetailed explanations. Remember, you . Remember, you must must argueargue in such a in such a convincing convincing mannermanner that others will agree with you. that others will agree with you.

Sample Introduction.Sample Introduction. Imagine coming into a campus Imagine coming into a campus

where all you see is a sea of blue. There where all you see is a sea of blue. There are no longer any vibrant colors that are no longer any vibrant colors that allow students to express themselves. allow students to express themselves. The principal has announced that all The principal has announced that all students must wear school uniforms students must wear school uniforms from this day forth in order to bring from this day forth in order to bring discipline and decrease violence on discipline and decrease violence on campus. Therefore, the students campus. Therefore, the students freedom of expression is in jeopardy. freedom of expression is in jeopardy. Students are no longer able to express Students are no longer able to express themselves with their choice of clothes. themselves with their choice of clothes. Therefore, students should not be forced Therefore, students should not be forced to wear school uniforms.to wear school uniforms.

Prompt #1 Prompt #1 By the time students get to their teenage years, they By the time students get to their teenage years, they have one person who they truly admire and respect. have one person who they truly admire and respect.

WriteWrite a a biographical narrativebiographical narrative in which you describe in which you describe a person who is important to you. Explain why this a person who is important to you. Explain why this person is important to you and why you feel about person is important to you and why you feel about this person the way you do. Include specific this person the way you do. Include specific examples and anecdotes.examples and anecdotes.

DODO WHATWHAT• WriteWrite *biographical narrative*biographical narrative• DescribeDescribe *a person who is important to me*a person who is important to me

Prompt #2:Prompt #2:

By the time students enter high school, By the time students enter high school, they have learned about many moments they have learned about many moments in history that have influenced our world in history that have influenced our world today. Think about a moment in history today. Think about a moment in history you studied and consider its importance. you studied and consider its importance.

Write a composition in which you discuss a Write a composition in which you discuss a moment in history. Share its importance moment in history. Share its importance in today’s world. Be sure to support the in today’s world. Be sure to support the moment with details and examples. moment with details and examples.

Prompt #3:Prompt #3:

Imagine that your house was on fire and Imagine that your house was on fire and you only had enough time save two or you only had enough time save two or three items from your house before the three items from your house before the firefighters dragged you out of the burning firefighters dragged you out of the burning house. house.

Write a composition in which you discuss Write a composition in which you discuss your choice of items you would save if your choice of items you would save if your house were on fire. Be sure to your house were on fire. Be sure to explain your reasons for choosing those explain your reasons for choosing those items to save using details and examples. items to save using details and examples.

Prompt #4:Prompt #4:

In the novella In the novella Of Mice and Men, Of Mice and Men, the reader the reader learns about one of the main characters, learns about one of the main characters, George Milton. George’s personality and George Milton. George’s personality and emotions are revealed through the actions emotions are revealed through the actions and dialogue presented in the story. and dialogue presented in the story.

Write an essay in which you describe the Write an essay in which you describe the personality and emotions of George, the personality and emotions of George, the main character. How do his personal main character. How do his personal characteristics add to the events in the characteristics add to the events in the story? How does the author reveal this story? How does the author reveal this information about George? Use details information about George? Use details and examples from the story to support and examples from the story to support your ideas. your ideas.

Prompt #5:Prompt #5:

Most students spend most of their time on Most students spend most of their time on school grounds and therefore are forced to school grounds and therefore are forced to use the facilities on campus, especially the use the facilities on campus, especially the restrooms.restrooms.

Write a persuasive letter to the Board of Write a persuasive letter to the Board of Education explaining why students Education explaining why students deserve a clean restroom, but the school’s deserve a clean restroom, but the school’s restrooms are a mess. Convince the restrooms are a mess. Convince the Board to take action on this problem Board to take action on this problem through the use of specific examples. through the use of specific examples.

Relax and try Relax and try your best!!!your best!!!