How to be SUCCESSFUL On the NHSPE Writing Exam

The Basics of the Exam  There are two types of “prompts” or questions that you will have to answer  A. Expository – This is ALL about yourselves!  B. Persuasive – Pick a side and defend your position!!!!!!!!!!!

The Basics - Continued  Time – You have ALL day within the course of the school day  (so, from 7:00 am to 1:25 pm)

Success Checklist  My essay/response will be successful if I:  follow the directions given in the writing prompt  stay focused on the main ideas  organize my writing into paragraphs

 use transitions to connect my ideas  elaborate by using reasons, well-chosen and specific details, examples, and/or anecdotes to support my ideas  include information and details that are interesting, thoughtful, and necessary for my audience to know

Follow This Format  Your job is to write two (2) responses that answer two different questions  Your job is to fill your page, or come close to it, with information  Your job is to write two sentence responses

Part 1 – Brainstorm/Model  Read and figure out what the question(s) are asking!  Outline/Word Web/Brainstorm!!!!!!! Organize your thoughts/ideas!!!!!!!  Begin writing using the following model:

Format for Responses  Introductory Paragraph:  Hook: makes the reader of the paper want to continue reading. Can be a definition, phrase or quote from a recognizable source, etc.  Thesis: the "back bone" of the paper. States a position on a topic that can be proved in the paper. Make sure the topic is narrow enough to be upheld with facts in the following paragraphs.

Body Pragraph  Topic Sentence: States the subject that will be discussed in the paragraph. A more detailed, narrower statement like the thesis.  Concrete Detail 1: Fact quoted or paraphrased from the piece on which you are writing. Cite the source if directly quoted.  Commentary 1: Comments on the importance of the concrete detail.

 Commentary 2: Comments on the statement in commentary 1.  Concrete Detail 2: Fact quoted or paraphrased from the piece on which you are writing. Cite the source if directly quoted.  Commentary 1: Comments on the importance of the concrete detail.

 Commentary 2: Comments on the statement in commentary 1.  Concrete Detail 3: Fact quoted or paraphrased from the piece on which you are writing. Cite the source if directly quoted.  Commentary 1: Comments on the importance of the concrete detail.

 Commentary 2: Comments on the statement in commentary 1.  Concluding Sentence: Wraps up the thoughts of this paragraph. Directly relates to the "Topic Sentence".

 Conclusion:  Wraps up the topic of the paper. Directly relates to the thesis statement but does not repeat it.  DO NOT introduce any new facts in this paragraph. This paragraph is solely used to tie up the loose ends in the paper.

That’s It!!!!!!!  Let’s Practice!!!!!!!!!!!