Grade 8 Writing Assessment

January 18, 2012

Why do we have to do this?

The state requires that a writing assessment is to be given in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11.

The results of this test help determine what kind of classes you need to improve your writing skills.

As we’ve mentioned before, failing the writing assessment will qualify you to be in the transitional elective class at RRHS.

What do we need to know?

There are two types of writing they may test you on: expository and persuasive.

You get 100 minutes to answer the prompt (just like the mock).

Your writing is scored by trained evaluators. We don’t know who they are or anything about them!

How can we do well? The state has decided that a 5-paragraph essay is

“formulaic writing”. They want to see more than that basic essay.

HOW! POW! The HOW! Line and the POW! Line guide you to

write more that a 5-paragraph essay. Use them!

What I want you to remember…

PREWRITING is the most essential step. Unfortunately, it is the step most students will try to skip. DON’T!

Answer the prompt. Ideas counts for 40% of your overall score. Simply focusing your paper on what they want you to write about will help you to do well!

READ YOUR PAPER when you are finished writing it. Read each word!

Incentives Those students who EXCEED on the writing

assessment have demonstrated mastery of the English language. Therefore, if you EXCEED on the writing assessment, you will be exempt from the language arts final at the end of the year!

If you MEET, you will receive 10 bonus points on your final!

Expository Writing Expository writing asks you to explain or teach

the reader. Fill in your HOW! Line as we go over it, and look

at the essay example as well.

You will have a quiz on Tuesday, January 17th over the HOW! and POW! Lines.

HOW! Line - Beginning LEAD – dialogue, small movement, thought or

feeling SHOW – use interaction and dialogue to intro

topic MEET – meet your topic; give a brief overview

HOW! Line - Middle Highlight #1 – your first interesting piece of info Highlight #2 – your second interesting piece of

info Highlight #3 – your third interesting piece of info HOW! MOMENT – MOST fascinating and

compelling piece of info

HOW! Line - End CONCLUSION – thought or feelings if short piece;

review if longer

Remember – Build up to your HOW! Moment!!!

Persuasive Writing Persuasive writing asks you to state your opinion

and back it up with the intent to persuade the reader.

Fill in your POW! Line as we go over it, and look at the essay example as well.

You will have a quiz on Tuesday, January 17th over the HOW! and POW! Lines.

POW! Line - Beginning SHAKE – thank your opponent for something;

flatter him/her SHOW – use interaction and dialogue to intro

topic TELL – your opinion

POW! Line - Middle Round #1 – your first reason Round #2 – your second reason POW! Moment – knockdown opponent with

strongest argument KNOCK BACK – your opponent’s predicted final

argument

POW! Line - End DO THIS, PLEASE! – call to action SHAKE – make nice again

REMEMBER – Only use the SHAKE at the beginning and end if you are writing a letter!

REMEMBER – Build up to the POW! Moment!!!