OGT Writing Test

Overview: Time Limit: 2.5 hours Sections: Two 18-point long responses: Narrative and Expository OR Narrative and Persuasive 10 Multiple Choice Questions One 2-point Short Response Question

The Difference: 18 or 2 points? To determine how much to write, you have to pay attention to the point value: 18-point writing prompts = Development in your writing Original thoughts Supporting details Holistic rubric measuring your content (+6) and conventions (+3) x 2 graders 2-point short responses= Little development (sometimes just a plan) Little/no original thought Holistic rubric measuring your attention to the task Both require you to know the purpose of the prompt. Both require you to follow through with that purpose.

Scoring O.G.T. Long Responses: Each long response is worth 18 points. Two graders each give a 9-point score: 0-6 Applications Score: audience and purpose, along with sequencing, development, and strength of ideas/details 0-3 Conventions Score: mechanics, usage, and grammar

Narrative Writing: Subject: Read and underline what the prompt asks for; it will likely be to relate an actual story OR tell an imagined one. Purpose: To tell a story Key Words/Phrase in Prompt: “Tell” and/or “Develop your story with details” Audience: the grader Format: dialogued plot diagram Develop a plot (intro, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution). Include characters, sensory detail in settings, conflict, theme. Add a literary device (foreshadowing, flashback, suspense, etc.). Show action with dialogue.

Expository Writing: Subject: Read and underline what the prompt asks for. It will be to define ideas, describe reasons, explore a problem and its solutions, OR analyze cause and effect. Purpose: To explain or teach Key Words/Phrases in Prompt: “Explain…” and/or “Be specific in your explanation.” Audience: indicated in prompt OR the grader Format: 5-paragraph essay (intro., body, body, body, and conclusion) Present ideas with clarity, coherence, and a sense of completeness. Include elements like how, what, and why.

Persuasive Writing: Subject: Read and underline what the prompt asks for. It will likely be to develop an argument with facts, reasons, anecdotes, and other supporting material. Purpose: To convince or persuade Key Words/Phrases in Prompt: “Persuade” will likely be used somewhere in the prompt. You may also see the prompt end with, “Be specific in developing your argument.” Audience: indicated in prompt OR the grader Format: 5-paragraph essay (intro., body, body, body, and conclusion) Present ideas with clarity, coherence, and a sense of completeness. Write with a clearly persuasive tone.

Stages for Essay or Story Writing: PREWRITING S.P.A.F. it! Identify the Subject. Identify the Purpose of writing. Identify the Audience to address. Identify the Format to use. Pick a method to brainstorm: Web; Outline; Free Write; List DRAFTING Write your answer. REVISING Edit your work!

S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points Your school newspaper is holding a contest for the best story about a disagreement between friends. The winning story will be printed for the enjoyment of high school readers. For the contest, write a narrative depicting a disagreement between friends. Tell what the disagreement was about and where the conflict took place. Develop your story with details.

S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points Your mayor is considering a teen curfew of 9:00 p.m. on weeknights because of a problem with vandalism. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in which you convince readers to accept your point of view on the proposed curfew. Be specific in developing your argument.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points State legislators believe that students’ driving privileges should be directly linked to their performance and attendance in school. For example, students should be required to maintain a certain grade point average and attendance record in order to drive. Or, if students fail a class, they would not be allowed to drive until their grade was improved. State and defend your position on this issue to an audience of state legislators. Be sure to include specific reasons to support your position.

S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points Many school districts have begun to incorporate job shadowing into their curriculum, and on top of the credits a student needs to graduate, a one-year "internship" period is required so that students can get a real feel for the profession they're interested in pursuing. State and defend your position on students being required to participate in such a program in order to graduate. Be sure to include specific reasons to support your position.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points Sometimes things turn out in a way we do not anticipate. Tell a story about a time or an event that turned out differently than you expected.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points In all our possessions, there are usually one or two very precious objects. Choose one that you really love. Describe how it looks, why it is special, and how or why you got it. Use as much detail as you can to explain why this object is important to you.

S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points Think about one change you would make in your community. What would that change be? Why? Write a letter to your mayor, city manager, or city council representative convincing them to make the change.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points Leaders are necessary to any group: families, friends, teams, clubs, countries, and others. Explain what it takes to be an effective leader.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points Remember a time you faced a challenge, whether it was a difficult problem, competition or task you had to face. Recreate that situation. Tell what happened and how you met or failed to meet the challenge.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points Your school board has received volumes of complaints about the school dress code and has decided to require uniforms next year. State and defend your position on this issue in a letter to the school board president. Be sure to include specific reasons to support your position.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points Everyone is an “expert” at something. Think of something you do well—anything at all. Explain how to do this so clearly and so completely that your reader will understand just what it takes to be good at this activity.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points We all have good times that stand out in our memories. Write a narrative about one of your pleasant memories.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points You can probably remember at least one time when you did something good for someone else that made you feel proud of yourself. Think about what you did and how you felt. Tell what happened.

Writing Prompt—18 points S.P.A.F. It! Writing Prompt—18 points You have heard the expression, “Experience is the best teacher.” Think of an experience or situation in which you either learned something or taught something to someone else. Explain what was learned or taught by this experience.

OGT Writing: Short Responses Read The question carefully. underline what it asks you to do. Follow through with that purpose!

Applying for a summer job could help me get the money. Interpret and Respond: Use the following and organize it into a sensible paragraph. Include transition words as you write. Applying for a summer job could help me get the money. Owning a new laptop would put me in a position to be successful. I will have gifts from friends and family members for graduation that I can put toward it. I want to buy a new laptop for college. My parents might chip in to help defray the cost. In addition, moreover, basically, also, then, finally

Interpret and Respond: Example Response: I want to buy a new laptop for college. Applying for a summer job could help me get the money. I will also have gifts from friends and family members for graduation that I can put toward it. In addition, my parents might chip in to help defray the cost. Basically, owning a new laptop would put me in a position to be successful.

Interpret and Respond: You have just heard from a classmate that your teacher plans to adjust your grades to include a test score she said she was not going to count. It is a test that you failed. You need to convince your teacher not to include that test score. Plan your response.

Interpret and Respond: How would you organize the following material into an outline for an essay response? Topic: Robert Frost and his poetry a. Recognized poet by age 40 b. Courage required by life c. Teacher and farmer as well as poet d. Essential loneliness of human life e. Sound a reflection of common speech f. Often a simple rhyme scheme g. Attraction of beauty h. Importance of learning through experience i. Composer of special poem for inauguration of John F. Kennedy j. Some narrative poems in blank verse

Interpret and Respond: How would you organize the following material into an outline for an essay response? Topic: Robert Frost and his poetry *Subtopics: biographical, poetic themes, sound devices a. Recognized poet by age 40 b. Courage required by life c. Teacher and farmer as well as poet d. Essential loneliness of human life e. Sound a reflection of common speech f. Often a simple rhyme scheme g. Attraction of beauty h. Importance of learning through experience i. Composer of special poem for inauguration of John F. Kennedy j. Some narrative poems in blank verse

Interpret and Respond: Use the following and organize it into a sensible, persuasive paragraph. Include transition words. The elderly are a large pool of untapped resources, and the school desperately needs help. Senior citizens are reliable. The school wants to organize a senior citizen volunteer program to help students perform academically. They have the maturity and experience to work with students needing help. Senior citizens have time for volunteer work. A program like this will help students and senior citizens to understand each other better. All in all, moreover, also, in addition, further

Interpret and Respond: Example Response: The school wants to organize a senior citizen volunteer program to help students perform academically. Senior citizens are reliable. They also have the maturity and experience to work with students needing help. In addition, senior citizens have time for volunteer work. Moreover, a program like this will help students and senior citizens to understand each other better. All in all, the elderly are a large pool of untapped resources, and the school desperately needs help.

Interpret and Respond: Your parents are thinking about taking a family vacation this summer and want your opinion as to where to go. Choose a destination, and plan a response to them that includes two reasons why they should go to the place you picked.

In Review: Pay attention to the point values; they matter! Read, evaluate, and plan every response. Practice S.P.A.F.ing with longer prompts and identifying short response purposes. Believe in yourself and trust your knowledge. 