Writing Section Occurs first on the day of the test For the Issue Task, two topics will be presented and you will choose one (45 minutes). The Argument Task does not present a choice of topics; instead one topic will be presented (30 minutes).

Five Paragraph Essay The first paragraph introduces the topic, gives a three-sentence outline of the argument to follow, then suggests what the essay's conclusion - the thesis - will be.

Five Paragraph Essay The next three paragraphs restate the three topic sentences, which have appeared in paragraph one, and offer proof or evidence for the assumptions that support the thesis of the essay.

Five Paragraph Essay The conclusion paragraph summarizes the argument, reiterates the thesis, and suggests how the thesis relates in some way to a broader idea. The final sentence should be clever, memorable, and relevant.

Issue Task Present Your Perspective on an Issue vgnextoid=e9a52d3631df4010VgnVCM f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=d68 7e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM f95190R CRDhttp:// vgnextoid=e9a52d3631df4010VgnVCM f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=d68 7e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM f95190R CRD

Issue Task It doesn’t matter which perspective you choose – pro vs. con. Pick the perspective for which you can generate the strongest persuasive position.

Issue Task Decide which perspective you will argue. Identify at least 3 ideas that supports the perspective. Incorporate them in the five paragraph essay structure.

Outline of Essay Intro paragraph Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 … (can have more points if you like) Conclusion Paragraph

Pool of Issue Questions vgnextoid=b63ce7b9edfb5010VgnVCM f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=06a 7e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM f95190R CRDhttp:// vgnextoid=b63ce7b9edfb5010VgnVCM f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=06a 7e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM f95190R CRD

Examples "Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are "The bombardment of visual images in contemporary society has the effect of making people less able to focus clearly and extensively on a single issue over a long period of time.”

Argument Task Analysis of an Argument vgnextoid=ed752d3631df4010VgnVCM f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=06c 7e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM f95190R CRDhttp:// vgnextoid=ed752d3631df4010VgnVCM f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=06c 7e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM f95190R CRD

Argument Task It does matter which perspective you choose. Try to find at least three reasons why the argument is not necessarily so. You will use knowledge from research methods and statistics class.

Pool of Argument Questions vgnextoid=ef752d3631df4010VgnVCM f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=06a7 e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM f95190R CRDhttp:// vgnextoid=ef752d3631df4010VgnVCM f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=06a7 e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM f95190R CRD

Example According to information recently reported in the Eliottown Gazette, the number of people who travel to Eliottown has increased significantly over the past several years. So far this year over 100,000 people have arrived on flights to Eliottown's airport, compared with only 80,000 last year and 40,000 the year before. Eliottown's train station has received more than 50,000 passengers this year, compared with less than 40,000 last year and 20,000 the year before. Clearly tourism in Eliottown has been increasing, thanks to the new Central Park and Museum of Modern Art that opened last year. Therefore, the funding for the park and museum should be increased significantly.

Example "Arctic deer live on islands in Canada's arctic region. They search for food by moving over ice from island to island during the course of a year. Their habitat is limited to areas warm enough to sustain the plants on which they feed, and cold enough, at least some of the year, for the ice to cover the sea separating the islands, allowing the deer to travel over it. Unfortunately, according to reports from local hunters, the deer populations are declining. Since these reports coincide with recent global warming trends that have caused the sea ice to melt, we can conclude that the decline in arctic deer populations is the result of deer being unable to follow their age-old migration patterns across the frozen sea."

Spelling Counts You will not have a spell checker. Review lists of commonly misspelled words /misspelled_words.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar /misspelled_words.htm

Review Basic Grammar & Punctuation Strunk & White –Elements of Style

Review Irregular Verbs I go… I went… I have gone….

Review Irregular Verbs He writes. He wrote. He had written.