Georgia High School Writing Test Scoring Guide and Tips

● The Georgia High School Writing Test is a test that YOU MUST PASS in order to earn a regular-education diploma. ● You will not see the prompt until the test begins, and you will have 100 minutes to complete your response. ● The test is given three times a year, and results are used to identify students who may need additional instruction in academic content & skills considered essential for a high school diploma. ● The GHSWT is a test of persuasive writing. ● Each response is scored by two raters. ● Scoring scale is 1-5 (5 being the highest score), and the total score is converted into a three-digit scaled score: o =Does Not Meet o =Meets the Standard o 250+=Exceeds the Standard About the Test

You will be scored on IDEAS (2x) ORGANIZATION STYLE CONVENTIONS The following slides will guide you through each domain on the rubric. How You are Scored

● Your essay must be FULLY FOCUSED on the topic/persuasive purpose ● Supporting ideas are RELEVANT to argument and purpose ● Supporting ideas are FULLY ELABORATED with details, examples, and evidence ● You use RHETORICAL DEVICES to support assertions ● Your response contains an ABUNDANCE OF IDEAS that fully addresses the reader’s concerns, counterarguments, biases, or expectations ● Your ideas COUNT TWICE on the rubric! DOMAIN 1: IDEAS

Counterclaim (n): An argument that makes an opposing point to another argument. Rebuttal (n): A statement that gives reasons why an accusation is untrue; when you make a rebuttal of a counterclaim in an argument, you give reasons why that counterclaim is not a good argument. Ideas: Counterclaim/Rebuttal

You should buy a motorcycle. (claim) They are smaller than cars and allow drivers to move into and through traffic with ease. By being able to move into and through traffic with ease, motorists can save time by not having to sit in traffic. (CCR) Some may argue that because motorcycles are smaller than cars, consumers should not buy one. While this argument is valid in the sense that motorcycles can be more dangerous than cars because they are smaller, the benefits of driving a motorcycle, such as saving money on gas, make it a good reason to buy. Samples

● “On the other hand, some people believe ______...” ● “One may argue _________; however, _____...” ● “Some people feel that_________; however,_____...” Sentence Starters for Counterclaim/Rebuttal

The lead/hook captures the reader’s attention The thesis states the writer’s assertion (belief) about the topic The supporting arguments (logos, pathos, ethos) convince the reader that the thesis is correct Optional counter arguments respond to reader concerns and objections The conclusion restates the thesis (comes back to the point) DOMAIN 2: ORGANIZATION

What is a thesis? ● The MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE in your paper ● Lets the reader know the main idea of the paper ● Answers the question: “What am I trying to prove?” ● Not a factual statement, but a claim that has to be proven throughout the paper Organization: THESIS

A thesis statement is always one sentence that states your assertion (belief) about a topic. A thesis statement usually includes a forecast (brief preview of your arguments). Try to avoid FIRST PERSON (I, we, our, us) Ex: Illegal drug use is damaging because it encourages gang violence (1), can lead to addiction (2), and results in physical harm for the user (3). ASSERTION & FORECAST

● Organization is appropriate to the writer’s argument & communication of ideas ● Logical sequencing of ideas throughout paragraphs ● Introduction sets the stage for the topic ● Conclusion provides a sense of closure without repetition ● Related ideas are grouped in logical manner within paragraphs ● Uses transitions to link elements of response Organization: Language of the Rubric

● Writer uses sustained tone that is appropriate for audience ● Varied, precise, engaging language that is appropriate to purpose ● Word choice suggests understanding of connotative (slang) and denotative (dictionary definition) meanings of language ● Figurative language may be used for rhetorical effect ● Sustained awareness of audience ● Authoritative voice sustained throughout response o What does authoritative voice mean?  ● Varied sentence structure o Vary the use of simple, compound, & complex sentences DOMAIN 3: STYLE LANGUAGE OF THE RUBRIC

● Tone= your attitude ● What’s the tone of each of the following? o School uniforms are a waste of time! o If you require school uniforms, you’re an idiot. o School uniforms are uncomfortable and should not be required. o School uniforms? Puh-leeze. Your attitude matters to the reader and is important on the GHSWT. BE RESPECTFUL!! DOMAIN 3: STYLE

● Consistent clarity of meaning even in complex sentences ● All elements are consistently correct: subject-verb agreement, word forms (nouns, adjectives, adverbs), verb tense, pronoun-antecedent agreement ● All elements of mechanics are consistently correct: punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and paragraph indentation ● Infrequent, if any, errors DOMAIN 4: CONVENTIONS