What you need to know to do your best Georgia High School Writing Test

Setting a purpose What is the purpose of a persuasive essay?

The purpose of a persuasive essay is to convince the reader of your opinion on a topic.

Getting Started What things should you do before you begin writing?

Getting Started Before you begin writing, there are a few things you should do. Skipping these steps won’t save you time in the long run and your writing will not be as good as it could be. Read the topic. Choose a side. Identify the format of your essay. This means to consider what you’re supposed to write. If you are to write a letter, include your salutation at the beginning and sign your name (or an appropriate closing) at the end.

Getting Started, continued Identify your audience. Ask about your audience: Who is my audience? What kind of language should I use when addressing this audience? What will make my audience care about this issue? What arguments might my audience have? What will my audience expect from my essay?

Ready to Write Now that you’ve got your planning done, consider these questions. What three things should an opening paragraph do? What is a thesis? What should the first sentence of an introduction do?

Ready to Write Now that you’ve got your planning done, consider these questions. What three things should an opening paragraph do? It should gain your reader’s attention. It should introduce your subject. It should identify your thesis. What is a thesis? A thesis is the sentence that lets the reader know what overall idea you are going to discuss. It is usually the last sentence of your opening paragraph. What should the first sentence of an introduction do? Your first sentence creates your reader’s first impression and should catch the reader’s attention.

Your Opening Paragraph What are some interesting and effective ways to begin an opening paragraph?

Five Ways to Begin an Opening Paragraph Share some thought- provoking details about the subject. Ask your reader a challenging question. Begin with an informative quotation. Provide a dramatic, eye- opening statement. Open with some thoughtful dialogue or engaging story.

Once you’ve begun your intro, then what? What about the 2 nd and 3 rd sentences of your introductory paragraph? What does the thesis statement contain? What about the other paragraphs?

Once you’ve begun your intro, then what? (continued) What about the 2 nd and 3 rd sentences of your introductory paragraph? The 2 nd and 3 rd sentences of an introduction should identify and discuss the topic. (Review – What should the first sentence do?) What does the thesis statement contain? The thesis statement should contain a statement of topic and opinion. (Review – What is a thesis? Where is it usually located?)

Once you’ve begun your intro, then what? (continued) What about the other paragraphs? In terms of organization, the topic sentence of the body paragraphs is the 1 st sentence of the body paragraphs. The 2 nd – 5 th sentences of the body paragraphs are the supporting details / evidence of the 1 st sentence.

Body Paragraphs What is the most important part of a persuasive body paragraph?

Body Paragraphs, continued What is the most important part of a persuasive body paragraph?

Body Paragraphs, continued A good persuasive body paragraph contains 4 to 5 supporting details. So, what are the three types of supporting details?

Body Paragraphs, continued Types of Supporting Details Ethical appeal Definition: appealing to someone’s sense of right and wrong Example: providing a choice between right and wrong

Body Paragraphs, continued Types of Supporting Details Emotional appeal Definition: appealing to / playing on (an) emotion Example: anecdote, hypothetical situations

Body Paragraphs, continued Types of Supporting Details Logical appeal Definition: appeals to sense of logic Example: analogies, facts

Counter Argue What does it mean to counter argue?

Counter Argue To counter argue is to identify and acknowledge arguments that are opposite of yours and address them. (In other words, it’s where you say why they are wrong.)

Conclusions What does an effective conclusion do?

Conclusions Should briefly reword and restate your opinion. Should answer any questions left unanswered in the body paragraphs. Should emphasize the special importance of one of the supporting details. Should connect with the reader’s life or with life in general. Are a good place for counterargument.

Persuasive Essay Organizational Strategies What are two strong organizational strategies for persuasive essays?

Persuasive Essay Organizational Strategies The Multi-Story Technique Introduction with thesis Three or more stories / anecdotes in body paragraphs Conclusion Book-End Technique Introduction with thesis One long story / anecdote 1 st body P: beginning of story 2 nd body P: middle of story 3 rd body P: end of story Conclusion states why your story supports the thesis

Grading How will the GHSWT be graded?

Grading Scoring the graduation test – You will be scored in the domains of ideas, organization, style, and conventions. So, what is meant by these domains, and what do they entail?

Ideas The ideas domain is scored on Controlling ideas / focus Supporting ideas Relevance of detail Depth of development Awareness of the persuasive purpose Sense of completeness The ideas domain counts twice as much as any other domain.

Organization In the organization domain you are scored on Overall plan Introduction / body / conclusion Sequence of ideas Grouping of ideas within paragraphs Organizing strategies appropriate to persuasion Transitions

Style The style domain is scored on Word choice Audience awareness Voice Sentence variety

Conventions In the conventions domain you are scored on Sentence formation Usage – mistakes you can hear Mechanics – mistakes you can see

General Scoring In each domain, you may receive a score ranging from a 1 to a 5. A 5 is the highest score and a 1 is the lowest.