KNOCK THEIRKNOCK THEIRSOCKS OFF!SOCKS OFF!

WHAT YOU NEED TO WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TOKNOW TO

SUCCEED ON THESUCCEED ON THE

GA. MIDDLE GRADESGA. MIDDLE GRADESWRITING WRITING

ASSESSMENTASSESSMENT

You know how to write!You know how to write!

SHOW IT!SHOW IT!Steps in the Writing Steps in the Writing ProcessProcess

PREPARE to WRITEPREPARE to WRITE

PREWRITINGPREWRITING ~ 15 minutes~ 15 minutes

1.1. Make a jot listMake a jot list

2. Create and 2. Create and use a use a GRAPHIC GRAPHIC ORGANIZERORGANIZER

ROUGH DRAFTROUGH DRAFT

DRAFTDRAFT~ 35 minutes~ 35 minutes

Write the first Write the first draft using draft using your your prewriting.prewriting.

REVISINGREVISING

Rethink/Reshape/ReworkRethink/Reshape/Rework Apply writing techniques:Apply writing techniques:

– Expansion (Add details that Expansion (Add details that “show”)“show”)

– Movability (vary the sentences by Movability (vary the sentences by moving prepositional phrases and moving prepositional phrases and subordinate clauses to the front, subordinate clauses to the front, middle, or end of the sentence) middle, or end of the sentence)

– Sentence combining ( combine Sentence combining ( combine short, choppy sentences)short, choppy sentences)

– Slotting (replace over-used, Slotting (replace over-used, repetitious, not-very- exciting repetitious, not-very- exciting words)words)

EDITINGEDITING

Spell, capitalize, Spell, capitalize, punctuate punctuate correctlycorrectly..

Use complete sentences.Use complete sentences. Use words and language Use words and language

correctlycorrectly..

REVISING AND REVISING AND EDITINGEDITING

should take should take

approximately approximately 20 minutes.20 minutes.

FINAL DRAFTFINAL DRAFT

Time to write: 20 Time to write: 20 minutesminutes

Write the final draft Write the final draft NEATLY in NEATLY in blue or black blue or black inkink..

Stay on the lines of the Stay on the lines of the paper provided.paper provided.

Maximum of two sides Maximum of two sides (front & back).(front & back).

PROOFREADPROOFREAD

Time: 10 minutesTime: 10 minutes Read your final draft Read your final draft

carefully.carefully. Make any additional Make any additional

corrections or changes.corrections or changes. Neatly draw a line Neatly draw a line

through a word you through a word you want to correct.want to correct.

A SUMMARY OF THE A SUMMARY OF THE TIME YOU HAVETIME YOU HAVE Planning/Pre-write: Planning/Pre-write: 15 mins15 mins Draft:Draft: 35 mins35 mins Revise and Edit:Revise and Edit: 20 mins20 mins Final Draft:Final Draft: 20 mins20 mins Proofread:Proofread: 10 mins10 mins TOTAL:TOTAL: 100 mins100 mins

SCORING RUBRICSCORING RUBRIC

There are 4 domains:There are 4 domains:

1.1. IDEAS X2IDEAS X2

2.2. ORGANIZATION X1ORGANIZATION X1

3.3. STYLE X1STYLE X1

4.4. CONVENTIONS X1CONVENTIONS X1

IDEASIDEAS

Components:Components:FocusFocusControlling ideaControlling ideaClear main idea (s)Clear main idea (s)Supporting ideasSupporting ideasRelevance of detailRelevance of detailDevelopment (fluency, depth, & balance Development (fluency, depth, & balance

of exploration or explanation of the topic)of exploration or explanation of the topic)Sense of completenessSense of completenessAwareness of genre – are you responding Awareness of genre – are you responding

to an expository or persuasive topic.to an expository or persuasive topic.

WEIGHTED TWICE

ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

• ComponentsComponentsOverall PlanOverall PlanIntroduction, body, conclusionIntroduction, body, conclusionSequence of ideasSequence of ideasGrouping of ideas in paragraphsGrouping of ideas in paragraphsGenre-specific strategiesGenre-specific strategiesTransitionsTransitions

WEIGHTED ONCE (1x)

STYLE …weighted X1STYLE …weighted X1

Word ChoiceWord Choice Audience awarenessAudience awareness VoiceVoice Sentence varietySentence variety Strategies appropriate to the Strategies appropriate to the

genregenre

CONVENTIONSCONVENTIONS

ComponentsComponents1.1. Sentence FormationSentence Formation- CorrectnessCorrectness- Clarity of meaningClarity of meaning- ComplexityComplexity- End punctuationEnd punctuation2.2. UsageUsage- subject-verb agreementsubject-verb agreement- Standard word formsStandard word forms- PossessivesPossessives- ContractionsContractions

WEIGHTED ONE TIME (1X)

CONVENTIONS CONVENTIONS CONTINUEDCONTINUED

3. 3. MechanicsMechanics - Internal punctuationInternal punctuation- SpellingSpelling- Paragraph breaksParagraph breaks- CapitalizationCapitalization

WEIGHTED ONE TIME (1X)

THE GENRESTHE GENRES

You will either get:You will either get:

An EXPOSITORY topicAn EXPOSITORY topic

OR OR

An ARGUMENTATIVE topicAn ARGUMENTATIVE topic

GENRES CONTINUEDGENRES CONTINUED

ExpositoryExpository Provide Provide

informationinformation Compare and Compare and

contrastcontrast DescribeDescribe Explain howExplain how Cause and effectCause and effect Problem-solutionProblem-solution

ARGUMENTATIVEARGUMENTATIVE Choose a point of Choose a point of

viewview Argue that point Argue that point

of viewof view Provide support Provide support

for your for your viewpoint on the viewpoint on the subjectsubject

What does it look What does it look like?like?

You will receive four sheets of You will receive four sheets of paper which make up the paper which make up the Writing Assessment:Writing Assessment:– One page which is the Writing One page which is the Writing

Topic PageTopic Page– One page which is plain white One page which is plain white

paper that has a space for your paper that has a space for your name as says Planning/Prewriting name as says Planning/Prewriting PagesPages

– One page that is lined paper and One page that is lined paper and says Drafting Pagessays Drafting Pages

– One page that is lined and says One page that is lined and says Final DraftFinal Draft

SAMPLE TOPICS & SAMPLE TOPICS & PROMPTSPROMPTSAmericans spend a great deal of Americans spend a great deal of

time watching sporting time watching sporting events, either at a stadium, or events, either at a stadium, or

at home on television.at home on television.Directions for writing:Directions for writing:Write an article for your local Write an article for your local

newspaper reporting about newspaper reporting about oneone sport. Provide details sport. Provide details about how, when and where about how, when and where the sport is played.the sport is played.

SAMPLE TOPICS & SAMPLE TOPICS & PROMPTSPROMPTSAmericans spend a great deal of time Americans spend a great deal of time

watching sporting events, either at watching sporting events, either at a stadium, or at home on television.a stadium, or at home on television.

Some people believe watching a lot of Some people believe watching a lot of sport is physically and mentally sport is physically and mentally unhealthy for American teens. unhealthy for American teens.

Directions for writing:Directions for writing:Write to your local newspaper Write to your local newspaper

expressing your opinion about expressing your opinion about American teens watching sports American teens watching sports and whether you believe it is and whether you believe it is physically and mentally unhealthy.physically and mentally unhealthy.

AnotherAnother sample sample topic/prompttopic/prompt

Outer space holds many mysteries. Many Outer space holds many mysteries. Many people wonder if there is life on other people wonder if there is life on other planets or what it would be like to travel planets or what it would be like to travel to the moon. NASA is America’s number to the moon. NASA is America’s number one organization that studies space and one organization that studies space and organizes missions to space.organizes missions to space.

Some people believe the US space program Some people believe the US space program is a waste of money, and that that money is a waste of money, and that that money can be used elsewhere for better causes can be used elsewhere for better causes on earth.on earth.

Writing DirectionsWriting Directions

Write to the president of the United States Write to the president of the United States expressing your opinion about funding the expressing your opinion about funding the US space program.US space program.

Another sample Another sample topic/prompttopic/prompt

Outer space holds many mysteries. Outer space holds many mysteries. Many people wonder if there is life on Many people wonder if there is life on other planets or what it would be like other planets or what it would be like to travel to the moon. NASA is to travel to the moon. NASA is America’s number one organization America’s number one organization that studies space and organizes that studies space and organizes missions to space.missions to space.

Directions for writing:Directions for writing:You are head of the “Future” club at You are head of the “Future” club at

your school. Write a letter to your your school. Write a letter to your principal explaining how you are principal explaining how you are going to raise money to fund a club going to raise money to fund a club trip to NASA.trip to NASA.

Another Sample Topic/ Another Sample Topic/ PromptPrompt School rules help keep students safe and School rules help keep students safe and

able to concentrate on their school work. able to concentrate on their school work. One rule that affects students is the dress One rule that affects students is the dress code. Your principal is considering code. Your principal is considering changing the school’s dress code and changing the school’s dress code and wants some information from students. wants some information from students. Decide on how you would change your Decide on how you would change your school’s dress code.school’s dress code.

Directions for WritingDirections for WritingWrite an essay to convince your principal to Write an essay to convince your principal to

change your school’s dress code. Be sure change your school’s dress code. Be sure to include detailed reasons and examples.to include detailed reasons and examples.

Another Sample Topic/ Another Sample Topic/ PromptPrompt School rules help keep students safe and able School rules help keep students safe and able

to concentrate on their school work. One rule to concentrate on their school work. One rule that affects students is the dress code. Your that affects students is the dress code. Your principal is reviewing the school’s dress code principal is reviewing the school’s dress code and wants some information from students and wants some information from students about their clothing choices.about their clothing choices.

Directions for WritingDirections for WritingWrite an essay for your principal comparing and Write an essay for your principal comparing and

contrasting the way you dress for school and contrasting the way you dress for school and the way you dress for other activities such as the way you dress for other activities such as playing outside or playing with your friends. playing outside or playing with your friends. Include specific details so that your principal Include specific details so that your principal will understand the differences in your will understand the differences in your clothing choices.clothing choices.